KOHAT, Sept 23: Anti-mosquito spray could not be carried out in most of the areas outside Kohat city, as the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) has lent its only fumigation machine to the Punjab government, sources said.

They said that the TMA had so far covered the city area only with the help of a portable machine fixed on a Suzuki van of the health department, while spray in major towns of Kohat was yet to be conducted. When contacted, Tehsil Municipal Officer Mohammad Shoaib said on Friday that the only machine with the TMA was given to Punjab due to the emergency situation there. He said that the machine would be returned soon after arrival of new machines there.

He said that presently they were working with a portable machine as a makeshift arrangement. He said that orders had also been placed for two new spray machines besides a Suzuki pickup to be procured locally. He said that the government had already sanctioned Rs14.4 million for the purpose. Mr Shoaib clarified that it was the duty of the Fata Secretariat to arrange spray in the semi-autonomous town of Darra Adam Khel and other villages.

Meanwhile, two residents of Lachi town who got infected with dengue virus in Lahore had been asked by their families to remain there for getting better treatment, sources said.

Earlier, Azmat Ali, 25, belonging to Shakardarra area of Kohat located along the Mianwali border of Punjab died due to dengue fever in Lahore and his body was brought here for burial a few days ago.

Mr Shoaib said that the spray in villages of Ustarzai and Sherkot on the Hangu road had been completed and the teams would now conduct spray in Gumbat town on Rawalpindi road and Tappi town on the Bannu road in a few days.

Meanwhile, three private rooms had been reserved in the KDA divisional hospital for dengue patients. An official said that the facility of platelets of blood was available in combined military hospital, Kohat.