SWABI: Chikungunya claimed one more life in a village here, taking the death toll from the ailment to three, local people said on Monday.

When contacted officials in the district health office neither confirmed nor denied the report. However, they admitted that two mountainous areas -- Sher Dara and Gandaf – where the latest casualty occurred, were hit last month by chikungunya and about 150 people had contracted the disease, but most of them have recovered.

They said on the special directive of provincial health minister Shahram Khan Tarakai they had arranged free medical camps and ran door-to-door campaign to treat the people and prevent the spread of the disease.

Sher Azam Jadoon of the Gandaf village in the Gadoon Amazai mountainous belt said the victim, Janas Khan, of Dasalkhel area was admitted to a hospital in Islamabad due to his serious condition. However, he died.

Jadoon said earlier two children of the same area had also died of chikungunya.

District health officer Dr Niaz Mohammad told Dawn that it was not yet confirmed whether or not the man had died of chikungunya.

QWP FOUNDATION DAY: Qaumi Watan Party local leaders said on Monday that people from across Swabi would participate in the foundation day celebrations of the party in Peshawar on Oct 29.

They were speaking at a meeting to review arrangements for the function.

Masood Jabar, district chairman of the party, said a procession of vehicles would leave the district for Peshawar at noon on Oct 29 through the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway.

On the occasion, MPA Abdul Karim said party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao had given importance to the development of the Swabi district. He said Mr Sherpao was instrumental in execution of the Pehur High Level Canal extension project which would irrigate thousands of acres of land in the district.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2017