MANSEHRA: Another child lost life to dengue fever here on Monday taking the number of deaths from the mosquito-borne disease in the district to six.

The deceased, Huzaifa Ashiq, 8, belonged to dengue-hit Darband town and was admitted to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital last week after testing positive for dengue.

The deaths were reported in Darband and Dodial areas considered to be hotspots for dengue.

Scores of men, women and children were infected with dengue in Kathand other health facilities of the district. However, majority of them weren’t hospitalised due to the shortage of beds.

Residents criticise dept over failure to take measures against fever

Resident Mohammad Faisal told reporters that there were no isolation wards at most health facilities in the district.

He said many areas had high dengue incidence but the health department had failed to take measures against the fever.

POLLUTION: Hikers, trekkers and people associated with the tourism industry have demanded of the government to protect scenic valleys and rivers here from environmental pollution.

“Climate change is threatening the natural beauty and environment of valleys in Mansehra and other parts of Hazara division,” Sahibzada Jawad Alfaizi of the International Union of Nature told a function held in the mountainous resort of Nasar Bagh to mark the International Tourism Day here on Monday.

Hikers, trekkers and tour operators from Hazara division attended the event and announced the removal of garbage from the Saiful Muluk Lake and Lolupatsar.

Mountaineer Muzammil Shah said record number of foreigners visited Kaghan valley and Gilgit-Baltistan this time around.

“If road and other facilities are available, there will be an influx of foreign tourists,” he said.

VACCINATED: The administration of Lower Kohistan district has vaccinated scores of drivers of the public and private vehicles on Monday.

“We have repeatedly warned drivers of both public and private vehicles to get vaccinated against coronavirus, but most of them are not complying, so they’re being given the vaccine,” assistant commissioner Mohammad Saqib told reporters.

A joint team of the health department and police led by Mr Saqib stopped vehicles at the Chakai checkpoint and administered Covid-19 vaccine to drivers.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2021