RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: As the number of dengue patients in the city has reached 600 in almost a month, locals believe the district administration is busy in photo shoots and is not doing enough to deal with the virus by controlling dengue mosquito breeding grounds.

According to Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam, they are not only fumigating areas to kill the dengue mosquitoes but have also dispatched 50 to 60 lady health workers who are going door-to-door to spread awareness about the virus.

The deputy commissioner said cases have surfaced from Pishtakhara Bala area of Peshawar, where they have carried out a door-to-door survey.

Most of the cases are from Tehkal, the rear of which is a rural area. The virus is said to be thriving in Tehkal as a large number of automobile repair shops are situated there. The water kept in open containers to wash tyres and for other related work serves as the breeding ground for dengue.

However, locals deny the claims made by the district administration, saying nothing is being done on the ground to curb the virus. The people of Peshawar said officials of the district administration visited the vulnerable areas only to get photos taken and pretend as if they are doing hard work.

But, they added, since the cases were increasing by the day it shows no concrete steps have been taken so far.

As per the administration of Khyber Teaching Hospital, five of the patients brought to the facility since June succumbed to the dengue virus.

A local, Advocate Saifullah Mohib, has submitted a petition in Peshawar High Court, saying the digging done for the Metro Bus Project was serving as a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes with rainwater standing in the ditches.

According to the petition, dengue has become an epidemic, mostly affecting people from a low-income background, residing in Tehkal, University Road and Warsak Road areas.

Therefore, the petitioner has requested the court to direct the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take measures like the Punjab government has and also arrange for the free treatment of patients suffering from the virus.

Earlier, the report issued by Hayatabad Medical Complex states that at least 10 dengue affected persons were admitted to Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) Peshawar whereas 20 patients were discharged from the hospital after medical treatment.

According to management of HMC, a total of 30 dengue patients were brought to the hospital during the current year. It said that 20 patients were discharged after treatment whereas 10 are under treatment whose condition is out of danger.

According to HMC record, 27 out of 30 patients brought to the hospital belonged to Tehkal area of Peshawar.

Meanwhile, at least three people were killed and a passerby injured as two rival groups opened indiscriminate fire at New General Bus Stand in Bannu on Tuesday evening.

Police said that the rival groups exchanged fire over an old enmity. Three people were killed and a passerby injured in the exchange of fire.