FAISALABAD, Oct 3: A man died of gastroenteritis while at least 500 people, including women and children, were affected in Chak 62-JB, Chanan Ke, on Jhang Road, here on Thursday.

Scores of gastroenteritis patients were brought to the one-room state-run rural health centre (RHC) in Chanan Ke during the last two days. However, owing to lack of space at RHC all victims were treated at their houses.

During a visit to the locality, people told Dawn that they used water being supplied by a village council through a tubewell installed at the Jhang Branch canal against a monthly bill of Rs40.

A resident said gastro victims were brought to the RHC, however, the staff was unable to cope with the alarming situation at a small centre.

He said nearly two dozen patients, most of them children and elderly people, were in a critical condition. Mohammad Husain, 90, of the area died of the disease on Friday and was laid to rest at the village graveyard.

However, the government officials denied this death report and said they had been doing their utmost to provide better healthcare facilities to the people.

It was observed that only a few people, mostly helpers had been assigned duties to treat patients in the gastro-stricken area.

The village comprises a population of 10,000 people and falls in the jurisdiction PPP MNA Saeed Iqbal.

This correspondent did not see any senior doctor at the camp set up by the district government for checkup and treatment of patients. However, only three paramedical staff members were seen working at the centre.

Scores of people have been shifted to the Allied Hospital, and villagers also got themselves examined from different private hospitals.

Announcements have been made through mosques warning people not to use tap water.

The district administration has also halted the supply of water and is providing potable water through tankers. However, people are not happy with such cosmetic arrangements.

District Coordination Officer Saeed Wahla visited the spot along with health department officials and set up an emergency camp for the treatment of people.

He said 19 water samples had been collected and dispatched for examination. The district government would also make arrangements for changing water supply pipelines of the area, he said, adding that all efforts were being made to cope with the situation.