THATTA, Aug 15: Three persons died of gastroenteritis in Sujawal Taluka hospital during the last 24 hours ending on Friday evening whereas 20 patients of gastroenteritis and 25 others of malaria were admitted to the hospital on Friday.

The gastroenteritis victims were Jumon Khaskheli, resident of Mohammad Khan Taherani village; Ms Asiat, resident of Jaar village; and Hussain Machhi, resident of ward-2, Sujawal town.

According to medical sources, about 500 people, majority of them children and women, in the Keenjhar, Jaar, Bijora, Ali Bahar and Sujawal areas have been infected with the two diseases.

Hadi Bukhsh Leghari, Nazim, Keenjhar UC, told this correspondent that he had apprised District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shirazi of the epidemic but neither the EDO, health, nor the DHO had visited the affected areas.