HYDERABAD, June 9: Three infants and a man died of gastroenteritis in three government hospitals on Tuesday and Wednesday, raising the death toll to 36 since May 15. Civil, Bhittai and Kotri taluka hospital administrations confirmed the deaths.

Nine-month-old Nadia, daughter of Mohammad Asghar, a resident of Kali Road; and one-year-old Jamshed, son of Nazeer Ahmed, a resident of Shahbaz Colony, died in the Civil Hospital.

Mohammad Umar, 45, son of Abdullah, a resident of GOR Colony, died in Bhittai Hospital whereas 11-month-old Reshma, daughter of Peero, a resident of New Baran, died in Kotri taluka hospital. Cases of gastroenteritis and other water-borne diseases have increased in Hyderabad and adjoining areas due to consumption of polluted water.

The citizens are supplied water from the River Indus, in which contamination level has risen to an alarming level after polluted water of the Manchhar Lake was released into it while supply of fresh water from the Sukkur Barrage has been minimal.