HYDERABAD, May 26: Chief Secretary Sindh Dr Mutawakal Kazi, who is conducting an inquiry into the release of contaminated water from the Manchar Lake into the River Indus causing a severe health crisis , is reported to have asked the provincial Irrigation Secretary Bashir Dahar to report to him in his office on Thursday.

The inquiry has been ordered by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar. Mr Dahar was the chief of irrigation, Kotri Barrage, till last year and was also project director of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) project being executed by the irrigation department.

Eleven people, most of them infants, have died in Hyderabad and Kotri since May 15 when the water was released and contaminate the water supply line. The secretary is believed to have prepared his statement in his defence which he would submit to the chief secretary. Who is expected to complete his findings in three to four days.

According to the Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Hyderabad, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, over 1,900 people suffering from gastroenteritis had been admitted or treated in general hospitals till Wednesday. He told Dawn that the quality of water had not improved much but the flow of patients had decreased. He advised people to use only bottled or boiled water.

WHO TEAM: Meanwhile a five-member WHO team based in Karachi visited the HDA's water treatment plant on Jamshoro road here on Wednesday and made inquiries about the contaminated water supply crisis. The team members met the XEN of the treatment plant Mr Qayyoom Junejo and other officials.