SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A 13-year-old boy, who was hit by a landmine explosion in Tiarza tehsil of Upper South Waziristan district three days ago, has lost his eyesight in the incident, officials said here on Saturday.

According to officials, the landmine explosion had occurred in the Laley Zhai area of Upper South Waziristan on Thursday night.

They said the boy, identified as Arman, son of Siddiqullah Mehsud, was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dera Ismail Khan, where doctors tried hard to save his eyes, but failed.

Political and social leaders of the area and Mayor Sarvekai subdivision Shah Faisal have expressed concern over the incidents of landmine explosions.

Mayor Shah Faisal said that the boy’s father was a shepherd and was grazing cattle in the mountains when the incident happened.

He said the government had imparted training to at least 100 youths in different areas of Upper South Waziristan district how to remove explosive materials, but they were not provided with any equipment.

It should be noted that after the return of locals to Upper South Waziristan, incidents of landmine explosions had increased in the area. On May 3, two children were seriously injured in a mine explosion in Makin tehsil of Upper South Waziristan.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024