MANSEHRA: Four women, including a young girl, were killed and another five sustained critical injures when a mudslide fell on them in Oghi here on Friday.

“Eight women and a young girl were buried alive under rubble after a heavy mass of mud fell on them in Ghannin Dilbori area. Local people and police retrieved five of them alive,” said Mohammad Salman, the deputy superintend of police, while speaking to media men here. He said four bodies were pulled out of the rubble, adding that the injured were shifted to Oghi hospital.

He said that a portion of the mountain slid down when women were digging it to put soil on their mud houses.

The victims were identified as Bushra Bibi, 12, Nazo Bibi, Arshada and Ameren, while the injured included Patraga Bibi, Sameeha Bibi, Rukhsana Bibi, Arjamand, while name of another one could not be confirmed.

POLIO eradication campaign: All the government departments will provide logistic support and staff to the health department to make the coming anti-polio drive a success in the district.

Deputy commissioner Ikramullah Khan told a meeting of heads of departments here on Friday that they should extend full support to the health department to reach out to every child in Mansehra. District health officer Naeem Awan, and Mansehra, Oghi and Balakot assistant commissioners were also in attendance.

Mr Ikramullah asked heads of departments to provide vehicles and staff to anti-polio teams during the three-day vaccination drive starting from Sept 29.

The deputy commissioner also assured the health department of taking take up the issue of nonpayment of the outstanding amount of Rs20 million by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government with the relevent authorities for corrective measures.

On the occasion, DHO Dr Naeem said that a total of 290,000 children of up to five years of age would be vaccinated against polio.

He added that a total of 884 teams, including 771 mobile, 83 fixed and 30 transit, had been constituted to achieve the target in 59 union councils of the district.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2014