Five children of a family die mysteriously

BANNU: Five children from the same family have died in the Takhti Khel area of tehsil Bakakhel in Bannu district over the past three weeks, while three other children from the household are also reported to be unwell, prompting an official investigation by the district administration and health authorities.

Deputy Commissioner Bannu Muhammad Fahim directed the health department to examine the case. Following his instructions, District Health Officer Dr Zafar Iqbal Wazir formed a special medical board made up of senior doctors to investigate the incident from all angles and submit a detailed report.

The board includes Dr Muhammad Arif, Dr Ataullah, Dr Muhammad Yasin and Dr Muhammad Mehryar Khan. It has been tasked with assessing the health of the affected family, reviewing their living conditions and determining possible reasons behind the illness and deaths.

Samples collected from house

A joint team of the Health Department and the Halal Food Authority also visited the area. The visit was led by local elder Malik Mamoon Khan Wazir and Chief Warden Civil Defence Masoom Wazir. The team met the bereaved family and collected samples of food, water and other household items from the home for testing.

Blood samples taken from the affected children and their close relatives have also been sent to laboratories for analysis. The findings are expected to help investigators determine whether an environmental, dietary or toxic substance may have played a role.

Doctors note possible poisoning symptoms

Some doctors familiar with the case said the symptoms seen in the children were similar to those associated with organophosphate poisoning. These substances are commonly present in agricultural pesticides and insecticides and can affect the nervous system, potentially causing seizures, breathing problems and heart-related complications.

Medical experts said that after the first child died, the family had been advised to undergo specialised blood and urine tests to identify the cause. However, that advice was not followed immediately. Further post-mortems and laboratory examinations were recommended only after more children had died.

Some local residents linked the deaths to spiritual or supernatural reasons, claiming the incidents began after a tree was cut and a wall at the house was demolished. Authorities, however, have initiated a medical and administrative inquiry to establish the cause through scientific testing and expert review.