DADU, Dec 19: Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum vice-chairman Ghulam Mustafa Mirani and local fishermen have said four fishermen have died of gastroenteritis in Girkano and Shaikh Dhaman villages of the Manchhar Lake area.

They said about 100 people of different villages including Girkano Shaikh Dhamman, Shah Hassan, Bubak, Zero Point and Shaikh Noti, were suffering from gastroenteritis, tuberculosis and skin diseases.

Talking to journalists after holding a protest demonstration here on Sunday, they said Haleema, 45, wife of Juman Mallah, and Umer, 6, son of Khair Mohammad Mallah, residents of the Girkano village, had died of gastroenteritis two days ago and Ali Mohammad and Naik Mohammad, residents of the Shaikh Dhaman village, one day ago.

They said fishermen were using saline and contaminated water of Manchhar which was causing the diseases. The in charge of a WHO team working at the Bubak Health Centre, Dr Khadim Hussain Lakhiar, said the use of contaminated water was causing the spread of gastroenteritis in the Manchhar area.