Neglect turns graveyards into health hazard

A severe shortage of funds and financial crisis in the municipal corporation have left 54 large and small graveyards across the city in a state of neglect, turning them into potential health hazards.

Due to the suspension of routine cleaning and maintenance, the graveyards have become overrun with wild bushes and cannabis plants, some growing up to five to six feet high, obscuring graves and creating ideal conditions for snakes and insects.

Reports indicate a surge in snake sightings, with two goats recently dying after being bitten by snakes in a modern cemetery.

The unchecked growth of vegetation has also increased the risk of dengue and malaria, especially after recent rains left stagnant water in many graveyards, providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Residents in nearby areas report that mosquitoes spread into surrounding neighbourhoods during the evening hours.

With funds completely exhausted, the municipal corporation has been unable to conduct anti-larvae spray or initiate clearing operations. As spring sets in, the growth of wild plants continues unchecked.

Local traders near the Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh cemetery, including Kamran Kami and Sudhir Butt, said they had killed three poisonous snakes in the past week, while two goats died from snake bites. They demanded immediate cleaning, vegetation removal, installation of new streetlights to replace those out of order for the past year, and removal or treatment of stagnant rainwater.

They warned that funeral prayers are often held after sunset, and the presence of dangerous insects and reptiles poses a serious threat to human life.

Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema has taken strict notice of the situation and directed authorities to ensure immediate cleaning of graveyards, removal of wild vegetation, and elimination of stagnant water to control dengue and malaria, warning of strict action against those responsible in case of non-compliance.