HYDERABAD, May 29: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's women's wing has regretted that 15 days have passed since the release of poisonous water into the River Indus but the government has failed to identify the culprits.

MNA Ayesha Munawar, MPA Kulsoom Nizamani, Hyderabad District Council member Shahnaz Baqai and other women wing leaders visited the Liaquat University Hospital and the Bhitai Hospital here on Saturday and met women and children admitted to the hospitals due to consumption of poisonous water.

They were given briefing by Liaquat University Hospital medical superintendent Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi and doctors of the Bhitai Hospital on the situation.

The MMA leaders also met the managing director, Water and Sanitation Agency, Kafeel Ahmad Khanzada.

Later, in a statement, Ms Munawar termed the supply of polluted water which resulted in the death of over one dozen people a tragedy. She said that tens of thousands of people had been affected and hundreds of them had been hospitalized.She said that due to lack of facilities at hospitals, four children were accommodated on one bed.

She demanded that the civil hospital should be expanded and equipped with latest facilities and the Bhitai Hospital should be attached with the Liaquat University Hospital. She further demanded that an ambulance should immediately be provided to the Bhitai Hospital.

The MMA leader said that the compensation amount announced by the Sindh chief minister should be paid to bereaved families without delay and action should be taken against those who were exploiting the situation and selling substandard mineral water.

She demanded that the Rs500 million package announced by former Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro should be released.

UPLIFT WORK: The Sindh secretary for Auqaf, Zakat, Ushr and Religious and Minority Affairs has expressed displeasure over the slow speed of development work at the Qalandar Shahbaz shrine.