SWABI, June 17: Bathing in and strolling around the Tarbela Dam downstream lake and Ghazi Barotha water storage area have been strictly prohibited by the authorities and the staff deputed there have been asked to enforce the order.

Sources said that with the onset of summer, a long number of people were flocking to the lake areas of Barotha and Tarbela. But the staff members were not allowing them even to walk on the road running parallel to the downstream lake.

The employees blow whistle to warn people approaching the lake area to stay away.

The signboards in the area tell people that they are neither allowed to fish nor in the lake.

A majority of people rush to the Pump House area of the lake, and enjoy the cold breeze and pleasant weather away from the bank.

When this correspondent asked an employee why such restrictions had been imposed, he replied. “We have been ordered by high officials to bar people from coming near the lake area, and we have no option but to follow the instructions”.

Citing an incident in which a mentally deranged person had plunged into the lake and committed suicide four days ago, he said the incident might have prompted the authorities to issue the order.

People coming in cars and on motorcycles were turned away and categorically told that they could not go through the road.

It may be mentioned that after 9/11, vehicles had been prohibited from running on the Tarbela Dam area for fear that some anti-state elements might attempt sabotage.