CHARSADDA: Hundreds of people have started coming for picnic at Khiali Manzooray area in Swat River in Charsadda on daily basis which has created fresh fears about the spread of coronavirus, while the district administration is looking the other way.
Besides the threat of coronavirus spreading, the tourists are also facing the danger of accidents and drowning in the river due to lack of safety equipment. The people of the area have called upon the government to immediately ban the visit of tourists to the sight during the lockdown and make sure that social distancing is followed in letter and spirit. They said if the situation continued like this, then there will be the danger of spreading of coronavirus in Charsadda, where a large number of cases have already been reported.
TNN correspondent reported that hundreds of people from Charsadda and Peshawar have started arriving at Khiali Manzooray, River Swat, on daily basis for tour and Iftar parties despite lockdown imposed by the district administration. The area people are extremely concerned over this practice as they fear spread of the virus in their area. They said the administration must keep an eye on public gatherings and ensure strict lockdown as the virus is spreading.
Accidents are also increasing at the picnic spot due to lack of any safety equipment or rescue activities. On Monday, a person drowned in the river and his body could not be recovered as yet. But, even tragic incidents like that have not deterred the picnickers from risking their lives.
So far, 314 suspected coronavirus cases have surfaced in Charsadda and three of them have died. TNN correspondent reported that 21 patients have recovered from the disease, the tests of 53 patients are positive and 255 tests are negative. The test results of six more suspected patients are awaited.
In tehsil Charsadda, 160 suspected cases were reported, 102 were reported in Tangi and 49 in Shabqadar. Among the 30 patients in Charsadda tehsil, one is a Chinese national who had come with a Tableeghi Jamaat. In Tangi, besides nine locals, two citizens from Kirgizstan, one person from Abbottabad and a person from Balochistan have been infected who had come with a Tableeghi Jamaat. In Shabqadar, besides local cases, one case is from Multan, two from Balochistan and one each from Rajanpur and Quetta who had come for Tableegh.
