DERA GHAZI KHAN, Aug 17: Three of the flood-affected people have died at the DHQ Hospital here during the last 24 hours from suspected gastroenteritis/cholera.

Though the hospital administration was not ready to speak on the issue, local officials of the Pakistan Medical Association confirm that a woman, Khani Mai, and two minors, Zaujuma and Shazi, had died of cholera-like symptoms.

The three hailed from Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, and had moved to Sakhi Sarwar in DG Khan after flood hit their area earlier this month.

The DHQ Hospital medical superintendent said stool samples of suspected cholera patients had been sent to NIH, Islamabad, for laboratory examination.

Already there are a large number of patients suffering from gastroenteritis in Rajanapur and Dera Ghazi Khan, with reports of two deaths during the last three days.

Dr Tahir Farid Turk of the Punjab Medical Association believes that cholera has broken out among flood-affected people and as well as among some dwellers of Dera Ghazi Khan city. He said patients' clinical examination suggested presence of cholera.

He claimed that medicines sent by the WHO to fight cholera and gastroenteritis were not being used in the Dera DHQ and Taunsa Sharif THQ hospitals.

Dr Hamid of DHQ Hospital said the stool samples analysis reports would be available in three to four days.

Executive District Officer health De Parvaiz Haider denied the presence of cholera in DG Khan and any death. He also refused to give details about the consignment of medicines sent by the WHO. BOOKED:

Rajanpur police have registered a case against four people on the charge of closing gates of water headworks of Noushehra which resulted into a breach in Qadra canal and inundation of several villages.

Sadar police registered the case against Pir Jafar Husain, Ghulam Qadir, Ghulam Akbar and Adnan Balora on the report of the irrigation department SDO.