FAISALABAD, Oct 4: Gastro death toll rose to two, while nearly 100 fresh cases were reported on Saturday at Chanan Ke.

Area people told Dawn that Abdul Sattar, 50, expired on Friday night. Earlier, Mohammad Husain, 90, had died of gastroenteritis.

About 600 people, including children and women, suffering from the disease have so far contacted the district government camp and various healthcare facilities in the city for treatment. However, accurate official figures are not being made available to the media.

Gastroenteritis erupted on the second day of Eid as area people consumed polluted tap water being supplied by a village council against a monthly bill of Rs40.

Village houses have been declared sub-centres owing to a large number of patients and paramedical staff is visiting the houses.

Residents are facing problems for getting potable water as the Water and Sanitation Agency is not providing adequate quantity of water. They said the agency had supplied only one tanker to a population of over 10,000 dwellers.

They also complained that no action was taken against any office-bearer of the village council responsible for the supply of polluted water.

District government official Ghafoor Ahmad told this reporter that the situation was improving in the area as only a few fresh cases appeared and they were being treated. He rejected the reports that 100 more people contracted the disease.

He said: “We are sending reports to the officials about the health conditions on a daily basis.”

Most of the people suffered from dehydration caused by consumption of contaminated water, he said and added that the situation would be controlled soon.

Meanwhile, Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz visited the affected area and examined arrangements made by the district government for treatment of the patients.

He announced that the government would replace water pipelines soon while middle school of the area would be upgraded to high level.

Responding to questions regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in the area, the minister said the government was doing its utmost to protect the lives of people.

He directed the Thekariwala SHO for effective patrolling in the locality.