RAWALPINDI: Dengue surveillance was halted in Rawalpindi on Saturday due to the morning rainfall.

The rain left stagnant water in parts of the city near Leh Nullah, but the health department did not carry out its anti-dengue campaign in these areas.

During visits to these areas three days ago, health department officials found dengue larvae present in and around Raheemabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Afzal Town, Pirwadhai and Fauji Colony.

A health department official said the graveyard in Dhoke Chaudhrian, located near the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench, still needs attention from town officials.

He added that junkyards from Chaklala to Rehmatabad were not checked and there were no teams deputed to drain water in vacant plots in Afzal Town, Shah Khalid Colony, Gangal and other areas.

Meanwhile, people living in various localities denied that any team conducting indoor or outdoor surveillance had visited them.

“No team from the RTMA or the health department arrived in our locality for the anti-dengue campaign. We use anti-mosquito sprays to keep our homes safe from dengue,” Mohammad Munir, who lives near the Dhoke Ratta graveyard, said.

Ganjmandi resident Mohammad Adnan said he was not aware of any fogging campaign in his area, which was facing the threat of dengue because of the presence of mosquitoes there.

Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Secretary retired Capt Mohammad Usman reviewed the anti-dengue campaign in the city and directed the administration to expedite fogging in union councils.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Saifullah Dogar and senior district administration officials.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2019