GUJRANWALA, Dec 8: Non-availability of anti-rabies vaccine at the state-run hospitals has been causing trouble for the victims and their relatives.

It is learnt that the vaccine is out of stock of every hospital, including district headquarters hospitals.

The hospital staff asks patients to arrange the vaccine for themselves. They have to purchase the vaccine from open market which is stated to be an expensive medicine. The hospital staff told this correspondent on Wednesday that about a dozen dog biting victims were brought to the DHQ hospital daily.

The DHQ hospital sources said 10 vials were received from the NIH on Nov 10. "The next consignment is still awaited," they added. When contacted, DHO Dr Saeedullah Khan confirmed that almost all state-run civil hospitals had no anti-rabies vaccine.

He said the authorities have been informed about the situation and their reply was being awaited. It is stated that the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, is the only registered institution where anti-rabies vaccine is manufactured. A vial contains 20 injections.

SEIZED: Sabzi Mandi police claimed to have arrested two drug peddlers with 80kgs of poppy here on Wednesday. Acting on information that a man and a woman would try to smuggle poppy from Peshawar by a truck, a raiding party set up a picket at Khiali bypass intersection.

As the truck reached there, the police stopped the vehicle and recovered the contraband from its hidden parts. The arrested accused were identified as Riaz Ahmad and Akbari Begum. A case has been registered against the accused.

FACTORY BURNT: A plastic factory was reduced to ashes after it caught fire in Lohianwala locality here on Wednesday. Reports said that fire engulfed the entire machinery and manufactured goods. The fire brigade and area people put out the fire after a struggle of two hours. Owner Muhammad Anwer said the estimate of loss was being assessed.