RAWALPINDI, Oct 5: Two families were robbed of over Rs387,000, 20 cellphones and gold ornaments in separate incidents here on Friday, police said.

Khawaja Kamran Ehsan, a trader, complained to the police that unidentified armed persons forced their way into his house at Airport Colony and looted Rs265,000, 60 tola gold ornaments, 20 cellphones and three laptops.

Omer Qureshi, a bank officer living in New Lalazar, said eight gunmen entered his house in his absence and held his family hostage.

The bandits snatched Rs125,000 and gold jewellery weighing 65 tola from the family and escaped.

A reporter adds: The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) on Friday imposed Section 144 for one month to stop washing of vehicles in the streets, junkyard business and open dumping of solid waste on roads in order to avoid the dengue threat.

District Coordination Officer Saqib Zafar told Dawn that he imposed the section as the spread of dengue virus had endangered human life.

There will be a ban on washing of vehicles in the streets, on roads and near green belts so that there is no standing water.

Similarly, rockery, fountains and waterfalls would be kept dried under this order. Besides, tyres should be stored properly and should not be kept lying in the open. The order will remain effective till further order.