SHANGLA: The people of Dab Behar area here have complained about outbreak of leishmaniasis that has affected scores of people, including children and women.

A local health practitioner, Mehboob Alam, told Dawn that dozens of people, majority of them women, had been affected by the disease, which is caused by the insect bite.

He said the disease was rapidly spreading in the locality, but unfortunately the health department did not take measures to control it.

“We have repeatedly contacted DHO Shangla and other relevant authorities, but despite assurances no medical assistance has been provided to the locals,” he said.

When contacted, district health officer Dr Shafiul Mulk confirmed outbreak of leishmaniasis in the far-flung area.

He said the locals had informed the department about the disease, and soon health teams would be dispatched to the area to examine the patients and provide them medical treatment. However, he said the department lacked the required treatment facilities and medicines to treat the illness.

“I have asked the health department in Peshawar about the required injections but the drug is also not available with them. The injections were provided to us by an NGO, but now the project has concluded,” he said.

MAN KILLED: A vehicle going to Chakesar from Maira Bisham skidded off the road and fell into a gorge, killing the driver on the spot.

Chakesar police said on Sunday the mishap occurred in Dandai area on Bisham-Chakesar road.

They said the locals retrieved the body from the gorge and shifted it to the rural health centre, Chakesar. The driver was identified as Fauji Mohammad.

INJURED BOY DIES: A boy, who was hit by a plank that fell off a wooden bridge in Bisham Kerai area, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Peshawar on Sunday.

Relatives said Mohammad Sadiq was hit by a plank that fell over him when he was passing under the bridge, injuring him critically.

ROADS BLOCKED: Almost all the roads in Shangla district have been blocked by landslides and heavy snowfall.

The Karakoram Highway has been blocked at Jijal area due to which hundreds of vehicles have been stranded.

The FWO said work on removing debris from the KKH continued and that the road would be opened to light traffic soon. It said falling of stones on the road between Thakot and Chilas continued and travel was risky.

The Shangla-Yakhtangy road was also closed due to heavy snowfall. Landslides have also blocked the Swat-Bisham and Chakesar roads.

Meanwhile, the people of Bisham city, Shang, Dandai, Town, Kunshi, Sadeen, Kund and Kohistan areas faced difficulties due to prolonged power suspension.

Pesco SDO Mohammad Ali said owing to heavy rain a high transmission tower had collapsed which caused power suspension. He said work on the power supply restoration was underway.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017