MULTAN: Two more patients diagnosed with H1N1 seasonal influenza died at the Nishtar Hospital on Friday, raising the death toll from the disease in the city to 21.

The patients who died were identified as Zardad, 82, from Khanewal and Siddiqui, 61, from Multan.

According to Epidemics Prevention and Control Programme District Coordinator Dr Attaur Rehman, nine suspected H1N1 patients had been admitted to hospitals during the last 24 hours out of which eight were from Multan and one from Muzaffargarh.

So far, 152 suspected patients have been admitted to hospitals across the district, out of which 80 tested positive and test results of seven were awaited.

As many as 26 patients were under treatment in the isolation ward of Nishtar Hospital, while four others were admitted to the intensive care unit.

Out of the 21 patients who have died of H1N1 here in Multan, 14 belonged to the city, three Muzaffargarh, two Khanewal and one each from Vehari and Rajanpur.

SHO SUSPENDED: City Police Officer (CPO) Sarfaraz Falki on Friday suspended the station house officer of Qutabpur police station for lodging a false case to favour a group of land grabbers.

According to an official handout, the CPO suspended SHO Sub-Inspector Muhammad Yaqub.

It stated that land grabbers had attempted to grab a plot belonging to a bank employee, Muhammad Usman, and the SHO deliberately lodged a first information report against Usman.

The CPO, after giving an opportunity of hearing to both parties, suspended the SHO. He also directed Cantt Sub-Divisional Police Officer Hasan Raza Khakhi to inquire into the matter and submit a report within three days. The CPO warned of departmental action against any police officer who facilitated land grabbers in any way.

DEATH ON BOARD: A passenger on board a flight from Karachi died after his condition deteriorated during the journey.

A 45-year old passenger, Muhammad Hayatuddin of Bahawalpur, was flying on an Air Blue flight PA-806 from Karachi to Multan. He was reportedly suffering from a lungs problem that started to worsen soon after take-off. Captain of the aircraft informed the control tower about the emergency and ambulance along with paramedic staff were positioned at the Multan International Airport.

However about 15 minutes before landing, Hayat died. Rescue 1122 ambulance was called by the airline staff, and the body was shifted to Nishtar Hospital.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2018