Nighttime insect invasion terrifies Samangan villagers

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Residents of Hazrat Sultan district in northern Samangan province say an insect locally as Kharak-i-Khaki has invaded hundreds of homes, disrupting their nightly peace and comfort.

Local authorities, however, have announced the launch of a campaign to combat the insect infestation.

Ajab Khan, a resident of one of the district’s villages, told Pajhwok Afghan News that over the past few days, Kharak-i-Khaki insects had aggressively invaded their area.

“This insect has made our lives difficult,” he said. “Neither our homes nor our food supplies are safe. They’re everywhere.”

Rahmatullah, another resident of Hazrat Sultan, said the insects are especially active at night, disturbing people’s sleep and rest.

“The invasion has ruined our sleep—we can’t rest at night,” he said. “They crawl inside our clothes, and while they’re less active during the day, they’re still present. These insects are about the size of a bean. They’ve invaded our district in past years as well, and at that time, some families even left their homes.”

Meanwhile, Gulabuddin Ghiyasi, Director of Plant Protection at the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Samangan, told Pajhwok that in response to residents’ complaints, a technical team with pesticide supplies had been dispatched to the affected areas and spraying operations are now underway.

He clarified: “This insect does not damage agricultural land or trees, but its widespread presence inside homes has caused significant discomfort and concern for residents. So far, our team has conducted pesticide spraying in several villages.”

sa/ma