KHYBER: The residents of Tirah have demanded of the district administration to impose ban on entry of outsiders, especially tourists, to the valley during Eid holidays to contain spread of coronavirus in the region.

Talking to this scribe by telephone from Bagh-Maidan markaz, they said that they saw huge number of tourists visiting the picturesque valley last year on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha.

Haji Shareef, a Malakdinkhel elder, said that they had no objection to tourists coming to the valley, but it was risky in the present situation as tourists could bring coronavirus along with them that would easily transmit to locals.

He said that in the absence of hotels and guest houses, most of the tourists stayed with the locals and the virus could easily infect the local people for their free mixing and dining with outsiders.

Nauroz Khan, another resident of Tirah, told this scribe that the valley lacked basic health facilities and the government too had not yet initiated vaccinating of local population.

“In case of large scale infection due to the influx of tourists, the virus could engulf the entire valley with no quarantine and isolation facility,” he said.

KILLED: Two persons were killed in two separate incidents in Khyber on Wednesday.

Police in Bara said that armed men killed a local resident in Bara bazaar in broad daylight over old enmity.

They said that Gula Khan alias Gulai died on the spot while the assailants managed to escape. Reason behind the killing was stated to be an old family enmity.

Rescue 1122 staffers in Landi Kotal said that a man was killed when a speedy car overturned on Peshawar-Torkham Highway near Haji Ayub Kallay. The accident was result of over-speeding, they said.

Meanwhile, the district administration sealed 42 shops and arrested at least 11 shopkeepers for violating lockdown in Bara and Landi Kotal.

Officials said that action was taken after complaints were received about opening of shopping centres by some shopkeepers in Bara and Jamrud despite official restrictions.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2021