Pakistan: Balochistan witnessing cholera outbreak

Six people, including women and very young children, died due to the disease after being infected by the virus.

Since April 17, when the first case of cholera was identified in Pakistan’s Balochistan, 2,856 cases and six deaths have been reported to date, according to the provincial health department, reports Greek City Times.

Local health sources, however, rubbish the official tally and claim that at least two dozen people are dead due to the disease, the news portal reported.

Senator Sarfraz Bugti, who belongs to the Dera Bugti area, tweeted: "20 died including children due to the cholera epidemic spiralling out of control in Pir Koh, #DeraBugti CM @AQuddusBizenjo is urgently requested to take stock of the situation and immediately lend assistance to the afflicted. People are suffering and protesting but no one cares!"

Dr Muhammad Azam Bugti, the district health officer in Dera Bugti, told Geo.tv that local people and animals use the same water ponds for drinking, which has become a major cause of the epidemic. Add to that the rising temperatures in the country this year and lack of rain, which has further left people with no other alternative.

“Over 85% of Balochistan’s population is deprived of clean drinking water,” the doctor said, “This at a time when billions of rupees are being allocated every year for water supply schemes in the province.”