MANSEHRA: The residents have complained about the growing incidence of dengue fever in Dodial town and adjoining areas here and insisted that most patients were schoolchildren.

They also criticised the authorities over failure to carry out fumigation.

Former councillor Nawaz Khan Swati told reporters on Wednesday that over 1,000 students of Government Higher Secondary School and Government Primary School were infected with dengue fever, while the virus was detected in children of other areas as well.

He said Dodial and adjoining areas were vulnerable to the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease as most of its agricultural land was irrigated by the Upper Siren Canal, but the administration and other authorities had yet to take preventive measures against the disease.

Mr Swati demanded an immediate fumigation of the area to prevent the outbreak of the virus. He also called for the screening of the population for dengue.

Residents insist mostly students infected with disease

The former councillor also alleged misappropriation in the funds released by the government for dengue prevention and control in the district, and demanded an inquiry into it.

The residents also complained that the government hospitals in Mansehra, Balakot, Baffa-Pakhal, Oghi and Darband tehsils didn’t have isolation wards for dengue patients.

A schoolteacher told Dawn that more and more students were absenting themselves from schools in the district due to the rising dengue cases.

He said if dengue screening was conducted, many schoolchildren would be found to be suffering from the virus.

The teacher insisted that the incidence would increase alarmingly if the authorities didn’t take immediate measures to prevent and control the virus.

POLICE CASE DEMANDED: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Mufti Kifayatullah on Wednesday reiterated demand for the booking of an assistant commissioner over the electrocution of a nanbai during a crackdown on polythene bags in Mansehra city.

The JUI-F leader told party workers at his house in Tarangire area here that the deputy commissioner, instead of taking action against the relevant AC over the nanbai’s death, ordered the arrest of over a dozen people, including him, for protesting the incident.

Mr Kifayatullah was released by the police on the high court’s orders the other day.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2022