DADU: Two more flood victims died of gastroenteritis on Wednesday as the health department failed to bring the disease under control.

Two-year-old Balak Khoso, son of Birkat Khoso, fell victim to gastro in a flood relief tent at Mehar Bypass while 20-year-old Abdul Rashid Khoso, son of Pasand Khoso, died at Mehar town.

Speaking with local reporters, Birkat Khoso complained that his son had died of gastro.

He said the eyes and ears of his son were also infected, but health officials had not provided him treatment. He said that three days ago, his nephew Misri Khoso had also died of gastro. Mr Khoso said gastro and malaria had spread among the flood victims, but the health department had failed to address the issue.

Pasand Khoso said his son Rashid had also died of gastro. He was living in a rented house on the Mehar city outskirts after the floodwater inundated his house in Mehar taluka. But the rented house was also flooded, he added.

According to rescue sources, total 22 people have died of gastro, malaria and other diseases, and in incidents in Mehar town and surrounding areas in past 20 days.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2022