KARACHI: Yet another child falls victim to filthy water
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Sept 20: While the authorities in the government appeared relatively complacent, another minor boy hit by dirty water died in a government hospital on Tuesday morning, taking the water contamination incident’s death toll to 11, said sources in the health circle.
The two-year-old boy, known as Kawish, son of Farrukh, who was brought to the Sindh Government Hospital Korangi in a very critical condition from Awami Colony, Landhi, could not survive and died in the emergency ward.
In the meantime, another over 100 people, including women and children, suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, reported to the Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, the Social Security Hospital, Landhi, and emergency health camps for treatment on Tuesday.
They, like other over 1,150 affected people, are believed to have consumed piped contaminated water.
EDO Health Dr Khalid Shaikh said the number of patients reporting to government hospitals and emergency camps in Landhi remained nominal on Tuesday.
Another health official said since the patients hit by the epidemic were not reporting to the camps now, it is likely that those field facilities would be withdrawn from Wednesday.
About 40 to -50 patients were admitted to Korangi and Social security hospitals for treatment. About 10 people belonging to Muslimabad were also brought to hospitals on Tuesday, said a source.
In the meantime, the KWSB managing director, Brig Iftikhar Haider along with his subordinates, visited the affected areas in Landhi town and ordered measures for supply of safe drinking water to residents in future. During his visit, some points of contamination in Landh-37 were also identified.
A senior KWSB official said piped water supply to areas, like Awami Colony, Bawany Chali, Muslimabad, and Khurrumabad, had been reduced in the wake of contamination and residents were being supplied water through tankers under the supervision of rangers and town officers.
The official said that about 3000 ft long dilapidated pipeline of 4 inches diameter, supplying water to some parts of Landhi, was being changed on an emergent basis. The normal supply would resume to affected areas as soon as the pipe was replaced.
Among others, the provincial minister for health Shabbir Ahmad Qaimkhani and adviser to CM on local bodies Waseem Akhtar also visited Awami Colony, Bawany Chali and other parts of Landhi town hit by water contamination.
Adviser Wasim Akhtar warned that strict action would be taken against those drawing water through illegal connections. Visiting parts of Landhi, the adviser announced that a four-inch diameter new pipeline was being laid in the area for supply of potable water.
Mr Qaimkhani said complaints were being received regarding supply of contaminated water to UC-6, which should be checked immediately. Caretaker/DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, MD KWSB Brig Iftikhar Hyder and DHO Health Dr Khalid Sheikh were also present during the visit by the minister and advisor.
In the meantime, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislators criticized the government for showing a ‘poor performance’ and failing to prevent the waterborne diseases in Landhi and Korangi areas.
In a statement, MPAs Nasrullah Shaji, Hameedullah Khan and Younus Barai demanded a judicial inquiry into the Landhi tragedy.
KARACHI, Sept 20: While the authorities in the government appeared relatively complacent, another minor boy hit by dirty water died in a government hospital on Tuesday morning, taking the water contamination incident’s death toll to 11, said sources in the health circle.
