09 July 2004	Friday	20 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

QUETTA, July 8: At least five people, including three women, have died after drinking contaminated water in a village in Wadh tehsil.

"Five people died after using contaminated rainwater gathered in a pond and 50 other villagers fell ill," a local doctor said in Wadh on Thursday.

The condition of at least eight people was serious, sources said and added that they had been admitted to the Wadh civil hospital. According to the sources after heavy rain in the area floodwater from mountains gathered in a pond used by the people of Thelsi village.

After using the contaminated water, people suffered severe stomach pain and the condition of 15 of them became serious. Three women, a child and a man died during the last two days.

Hospital sources said particles of animal and human faeces were found in the pond. A specimen of the water had been sent for laboratory analysis, they said. Khuzdar District Health Officer Dr Elahi Bakhsh said medical teams had been sent to the village.