HYDERABAD, June 10: Gastroenteritis claimed lives of two more hospitalized children here on Wednesday, bringing the death toll from diseases caused by consumption of contaminated water to 38 in the district since May 15.
The Hyderabad Civil Hospital administration confirmed the death of three-year-old Qasim on Wednesday night. An infant, Dev, son of Roopchand, also died at the hospital's paediatrics ward.
NOTIFICATION AWAITED: A notification regarding appointment of a committee, constituted on June 5 to monitor the water situation in the wake of the current crisis, has not been issued as yet.
Sindh health secretary Ashiq Memon had formed the committee while presiding over a meeting that was attended by District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed and officials of the Water and Sanitation Agency and the Hyderabad Development Authority at the circuit house. The meeting had also been attended by WHO country representative Khalif Bile Mohamud.
The DCO, Wasa officials, elected representatives and officials of the WHO and Unesco were selected as members of the committee, to be headed by the district Nazim. The committee has to assess and monitor water situation in the city and make efforts to improve it.
A supervisory committee, with provincial secretaries of departments concerned as its members, was also to be formed to oversee the performance of the monitoring committee.
The WHO official and the health secretary had informed journalists after the meeting that notifications regarding the committees would be issued next day as they would take up the matter with the Sindh chief secretary. However, the notifications have not been issued so far.
ARRESTED: The Site police have arrested a man who claimed to be in the army and registered an FIR against him on the complaint of army personnel. Police said Imran Raza, during course of checking, posed himself as a captain in an army's agency. The man was handed over to army personnel who verified that he was not in the army.
