VEHARI, Aug 18 Gastroenteritis is taking its toll on people, with the number of casualties rising with every passing day.

In the last four days, seven people, five of them children, have died of gastroenteritis in various parts of the city.

In all, this correspondent learnt, around 500 people have been suffering from the disease in People's Colony, 150 in Chak 9-11/WB, 120 in Muslim Town and 70 in Pir Murad.

Sources told Dawn that 200 patients were still being treated at the DHQ hospital. Ali, 9, Azra, 35, Iqra, 9, Arshad, 5, Taj Begum, 40, and two infants have died in the last four days.

The health department has set up a medical camp at X-block of People's Colony to provide medicines to the affected people but it has proved unequal to the task. Many people complained that the health team was preparing fake record of the patients and providing only ORS.

A visit to the makeshift camp confirmed that there was no medicine other than ORS, though officials insist that they are providing medicines.