Contamination in Ibrahim Hyderi: Over 1,000 people fall sick due to toxic water
Residents complain they have been getting impure water for a week
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
More than 1,000 residents of Ibrahim Hyderi, one of the largest settlements of the fishermen community, have fallen sick due to the toxic water being supplied to the area.
According to the data of the Sindh Government Hospital located in the area, 1,050 patients, including 490 women and 410 children, were brought to the hospital over the last five days with complaints of diarrhoea. "Around 200 of the patients were admitted but no one is in critical condition," said Dr Aftab Ahmed Azizi, the hospital's medical superintendent.
‘No point in teaching hygiene when there isn’t enough water’
"This is not the season of gastric diseases," said Dr Azizi. He said that most of the residents complained that they were getting dirty water in their taps for the last one week, adding that the population mostly lives in unhygienic conditions. "Poor sanitation is one of the major reasons for the prevalence of such diseases in the area," he explained.
Kamal Shah, a resident, complained that they are being supplied toxic water for the last one week. There are industries near Ibrahim Hyderi and the water supply lines may have developed leaks during repair works, he said.
Polluted drinking water: How much waste goes into Mingora’s stream?
Shah said that complaints have been registered with authorities and the Sindh chief minister has also taken notice of the issue. "Everything is still in the same condition," he claimed, adding that the four tanks that store the area's water have not been cleaned for the last 10 years. According to hospital management, the situation is under control and the general public is being directed to use boiled water, instead of using tap water.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2015.
More than 1,000 residents of Ibrahim Hyderi, one of the largest settlements of the fishermen community, have fallen sick due to the toxic water being supplied to the area.
According to the data of the Sindh Government Hospital located in the area, 1,050 patients, including 490 women and 410 children, were brought to the hospital over the last five days with complaints of diarrhoea. "Around 200 of the patients were admitted but no one is in critical condition," said Dr Aftab Ahmed Azizi, the hospital's medical superintendent.
‘No point in teaching hygiene when there isn’t enough water’
"This is not the season of gastric diseases," said Dr Azizi. He said that most of the residents complained that they were getting dirty water in their taps for the last one week, adding that the population mostly lives in unhygienic conditions. "Poor sanitation is one of the major reasons for the prevalence of such diseases in the area," he explained.
Kamal Shah, a resident, complained that they are being supplied toxic water for the last one week. There are industries near Ibrahim Hyderi and the water supply lines may have developed leaks during repair works, he said.
Polluted drinking water: How much waste goes into Mingora’s stream?
Shah said that complaints have been registered with authorities and the Sindh chief minister has also taken notice of the issue. "Everything is still in the same condition," he claimed, adding that the four tanks that store the area's water have not been cleaned for the last 10 years. According to hospital management, the situation is under control and the general public is being directed to use boiled water, instead of using tap water.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2015.