MINGORA, Nov 14: A three-year-old child died and over a dozen others were hospitalised due to outbreak of chickenpox in Kalam area of Swat. The residents demanded dispatching of medical teams to the affected area.

The epidemic broke out in Shaho, Osho and Mataltan localities which claimed life of three-year-old Osman Ali, locals said, adding over a dozen children have also fallen victim to the deadly disease.

It may be recalled that four children have so far died from the epidemic in the last four months.

Former nazim Habibullah Khan said there were no proper medical facilities in the lone hospital in Kalam, which caters to the needs of over 150,000 of population. He said there was no specialist doctor in the hospital for last four years.

DHO Swat Khurshid Ali told Dawn a medical team led by EPI coordinator Anwar Jamal will visit the area to find out the cause of deaths and provide medical aid to the affected children. He said joint teams of WHO and Swat Health Committee will be sent the affected areas if the disease was detected.

JAIL SENTENCE: A court on Wednesday awarded nine years rigorous imprisonment and Rs1 million fine to an accused in the Nov 2011 life attempt case on two brothers.

The accused, Salim, was arrested by the security personnel and police from the court premises, last year, after he attacked the two brothers.

Additional Sessions Judge Mamraiz Khan Khalil awarded the sentence to the accused under section 324 of the PPC and 13 AO. In case of non-payment of the fine the accused has to spend five more years in jail.