Frontier Corps provides relief to cholera-hit Pir Koh, Dera Bugti

Efforts by the armed forces to provide relief to those affected by cholera in Balochistan have continued, with at least 3,063 people provided relief in the disease-stricken areas.

"The Frontier Corps Balochistan continue relief efforts in Pir Koh and adjoining areas of Dera Bugti, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a Twitter post on Thursday.

"3,063 patients were provided medical care by doctors and paramedics, while 921 were treated for cholera," it said.

The military's media wing further said that more than 2,000 lab tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, whereas the provision of safe drinking water to the local population is underway.

"FC Balochistan is assisting civil administration for exploration and ensuring new water pumps and tube wells," it added.

On Monday, it was reported that at least 1,700 people were infected with cholera in the village located in the mountainous region of Dera Bugti after local residents used contaminated water due to old and rusted pipelines.

As per the official records, at least four people have been killed in the cholera epidemic but the local residents claim that at least 20 have died and thousands have been infected.

Also read: Cholera-hit Pir Koh faces water scarcity

The provincial government earlier claimed that the situation was under control but local residents and civil society took to social media to highlight the scarcity of potable water in the village.

A group of local residents and civil society on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against the shortage of water in Pir Koh village outside the Quetta Press Club.

They chanted slogans and demanded of the government to act before the situation resulted in yet another tragedy because the weather was unusually hot and the old water-supply line had been disconnected.