MANSEHRA: Gastroent-eritis caused by unhygienic water has affected over 200 people, majority of them children, in Harnail union council of Judbah tehsil, Torghar district, during last couple of days.

“Of about 395 people examined following outbreak of the disease as many as 200 were found to be suffering from gastroenteritis and 20 of them are in a critical condition,” deputy commissioner, Torghar, Tahir Khan told mediapersons on Sunday.

On the directives of the DC, a team of health department led by Dr Abdul Rauf set up an emergency medical camp in Harnail union council and treated the patients.

DC says treatment being provided to patients in Harnail union council

Mr Khan said that a medical team, including doctors and paramedics, found 200 patients, including 120 children, dehydrated from gastroenteritis and treated them there. “As many as 20 of the patients are in serious condition and they are being treated at the basic health unit in Judbah,” he said.

EX-COP ARRESTED: Mansehra police have arrested a former police constable who allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager in urban union council of Lohar Banda.

“We have arrested an ex-policeman who kidnapped a teenager and sexually assaulted him repeatedly,” district police officer Zaibullah Khan told mediapersons on Sunday.

Raja Iftikhar, who was dismissed from police service on charges of smuggling narcotics about four years ago, had allegedly taken the boy to Siren valley on the pretext of swimming there and later kidnapped him.

The suspect kept the victim in confinement for three days and allegedly assaulted him during captivity. The DPO said that they had arrested the suspect on complaint of the victim’s father.

Also in the day, five houses were gutted when a fire broke out because of electric short-circuit in Battle area of the district.

The fire, which erupted in the house of one Mohammad Shafique, spread to the neighbouring houses of his brothers, leaving the houses and household goods gutted. No loss of life was reported as the locals put out the fire after rescuing the inmates.

Meanwhile, Kaghan valley received a record number of tourists during Eid holidays.

The tourists thronged the valley from across the country choking traffic between Naran and Kaghan on Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road.

The tourists witnessed worst traffic jams before entering Naran road, which links Lake Saiful Muluk with Naran.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2019