DERA GHAZI KHAN: Alarming increase in the number of injuries inflicted by toka or silage making machines in the district was discussed at a meeting at the commissioner’s office.

A team comprising doctors of the Ghazi Medical College briefed the officials on the increasing cases of injuries inflicted by the machines used by farmers.

Dr Maalik said 130 accidents of injuries by toka machines had been reported in the last six months, which resulted in amputation of body parts of the users. Most victims are women, children and elderly persons in the rural areas of the district.

Dr Habibullah said 120 operations of injured people (some of them involving injuries of people using agricultural machines such as threshers) were conducted every month, which is an alarming ratio. He said the incidents were on the rise and a matter of concern for the district administration which should take action against the manufacturers.

He said the number of road accidents also was increasing, necessitating the need for police and highway department to ensure measures to prevent accidents.

The meeting decided that the commissioner would write letters to the manufacturers of toka machines to install safety shields to avoid accidents of amputation. The officials suggested that the staff of basic health units, rural health centres and tehsil headquarters hospitals should be trained to deal with such cases.

Legislation about use of manufacturing of toka machines was also suggested, as was an awareness campaign.

SHOT DEAD: A litigant was shot dead by a teenager at the gate of Aiwan-i-Adal.

Shahnwaz Changwani, 13, shot at Ibrahim Bandoani, 25, a resident of Basti Khosa Chah Kandeywala, to exact revenge of murder of his father Pir Bakhsh Changwani.

Police arrested the suspect.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2022