SUKKUR, Jan 25: Consumption of contaminated water, reportedly being supplied to Rohri for 20 days, has claimed five lives in three days while more than 30 people suffering from stomach ailments were hospitalized till Tuesday morning.

Those who died were identified as Zaheer Ahmad, 8, Allah Dino Mirbahar, 60, Balram Maseeh, 35, Zeenat, 65, and Nadir Hussain. The affected areas include the vegetable market, Suk Pull, Bunder Road, Mussavi Colony, Massan road, Karballa Mohalla, Qadimi Masjid and Haider Shah Haqani Mohalla.

A doctor of the Rohri Taluka Hospital told this correspondent that consumption of contaminated water was causing the stomach ailments. He said more than 10 patients had been brought to the hospital during the last three days, seven of whom had been discharged after treatment.

However, the Rohri taluka nazim claimed that the taluka council was supplying clean water to residents and added that meat of sacrificial animals had caused the diseases. The EDO, health, Dr Khalid Shaikh, was not available to comment on the situation.

On a directive of DCO Abdul Qadir Mangi to the EDO, health, and other officials concerned, to visit the affected areas, a team of doctors visited the Rohri Taluka Hospital where they were informed that six patients of gastroenteritis had been brought to the hospital from Jan 16 to 24, two of whom - Balram Maseeh and Allah Dino Mirani - had died. Doctors of the hospital informed the team that water samples had been collected from different areas in Rohri for tests.