Insect Crazy: Wasp attacks in Thar

MITHI: A vast area of Mithi and Nagarparkar tehsils of Tharparkar district, especially the entire belt along Pakistan-India border, is currently under the attack of throngs of wasps, locally known as “Khaakhar.” The insects have stung over a hundred villagers and a large number of cattle in a week, according to Ratan Lal Bheel, former Naib Nazim of a union council. The affected villages include, Tengri, Bhotaro, Mongario, Siranghwari, Dahyari, Allahyari, Jhangro, Banbhan Tobho and others. Ratan Lal said that the number of wasps might increase since the areas with stagnant water have not been fumigated.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2011.