SUKKUR: As many as 16 flood-stricken people, mostly children and the elderly, have died of gastroenteritis in the villages of Sukkur and Dadu districts over past four days in the wake of heavy rain and flood.

Residents of Shehbaz Dino Khorkhani village, 75 kilometres from Salehpat town in Sukkur district, told media persons that 12 villagers, including women and children, identified as Ferdus, 5; Rida, 6; Israr, 8; Bakhtawar, 25; Meema, 3; Hasnain, 4; Ruqaia, 14; Afsana, 45; Qadir, 50; Bakhsho, 48; Tariq, 15; and Zarina, 45, had died over the four days while over 50 were under treatment at home and private clinics.

They said that they had admitted seven more gastro patients to Sukkur Civil hospital in precarious condition where they were being tre­ated. The number of patients being treated at the medical camps was so large that many were being treated under trees and drips were hung on branches, said villagers.

Four die in Dadu village

Four more flood victims died from gastroenteritis and starvation in four villages in Dadu district on Friday.

Mohammad Juman Gadhi, 55, and seven-year-old Amna Kalhoro died of gastroenteritis and starvation in Mir Hasan Gadhi village in Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka. Zulaikha Loond, 55, died at flood victims’ shelter at Dadu’s Sial bund. Imdad Ali Jamali, 7, also died of gastro in Jeevan Jamali village near Bhan Syedabad.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2022