BADIN, Sept 3: At least 60 people have been infected with gastroenteritis in village Yousuf Bhoot near Shadi Large in the last 48 hours.

Some of the patients admitted to Badin and Khoskhi hospitals include Khalid, Fida, Akram, Laila, Irfan, Nazia, Shahnila, Mustafa, Waqar, Rab Dino, Niaz, Amjad, Rab Nawaz, Raziq Dino, Khatoon and Razia.

The condition of Ms Nazia (10), Ms Khatoon (20), Ms Shahnila (8) and Mustafa (10) is stated to be critical.

A villager said that 14 members of his family and 20 members of the family of councillor Haji Qasim Bhoot were infected with gastroenteritis.

He said there were two handpumps installed in the village, which were the only source of drinking water.

The water in ponds had been contaminated by the rainwater gathered during the recent monsoon rains, he added.

He said unfortunately the water coming out of both handpumps turned brackish and since every villager was consuming it there were chances that all of them were infected with gastroenteritis.

When the executive district officer, health, Captain Dr Maula Bux Bukhari, was contacted by this correspondent on Wednesday, he said he had dispatched a team of doctors to the village to rectify the situation.