Neglected graveyards pose dengue risks

Wild grass and weeds turn 54 city cemeteries into health hazards

RAWALPINDI:

All 54 graveyards in the city have nowadays turned into breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes and larvae, as persistent monsoon rains have caused wild grass, weeds, and cannabis plants to grow up to four feet high, leaving visitors and passersby at the mercy of poisonous insects and thugs.

The overgrowth has concealed graves and headstones, while many cemeteries have become safe havens for drug addicts. With no lighting in place, graveyards are plunged into darkness at sunset, which has also led to a rise in incidents of robbery and mugging in their surroundings.

Amid a severe financial crisis and shortage of funds, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), the District Council, and the Cantonment Boards have been left powerless, failing entirely to clear the wild growth. Traditionally, during each monsoon season, graveyards are cleaned, funds allocated, weeds cleared, and anti-mosquito spraying conducted. This year, however, no budget was earmarked for graveyard maintenance.

As the monsoon draws to a close, not a single cleaning operation has been undertaken. The unchecked vegetation now exceeds four feet in height, providing shelter for insects, snakes, rats, and mongooses. In many areas, rainfall has turned graveyards into ponds, with stagnant water severely damaging several graves.

Some of the city's oldest cemeteries — including Ratta Amral, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, Dhoke Khaba Jhanda Chichi, Dhoke Hasu, Eidgah, Kuri Road and Tallian Shahaan on Murree Road — are now so overrun that walking through them has become difficult. Funeral prayer grounds have also been left waterlogged.

Health experts have warned that the unchecked vegetation offers an ideal breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes and larvae. Local residents have demanded urgent clearance of the grass and removal of stagnant water.

Shahbaz Ali, a resident, said: "The Ratta Amral cemetery in Rawalpindi is 250 years old. The overgrowth has made passage impossible, while insects move about freely. At dusk, swarms of mosquitoes rise from the graves. Immediate fumigation is needed here."

Sajid Khan added: "In the new cemetery at Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, shopkeepers killed two snakes during the monsoon. The area is overwhelmed with filth and mosquitoes. The grass must be cut and spraying carried out immediately."

Malik Zaheer Awan, Chairman of the Citizen Action Committee, said: "The condition of Amarpura cemetery is dire. Rainwater, mud, and tall grass have created serious problems. If the authorities don't act, we will stage a protest outside the Municipal Corporation office." Officials of the Municipal Corporation and District Council admitted that they have no funds available, saying clearance and spraying can only begin once resources are released.