The leaking joints and constant lower pressure maintained in the water supply system due to load shedding at pumping stations caused entry of contaminated ground water into drinking water resulting in increased water-borne stomach and skin diseases, especially in children after recent rains in the city.
Relatives of such patients said that after rains they had been receiving water with a strange chemical taste causing stomach disorders and skin problems. They have told doctors at hospitals that they consumed boiled water but even then it did not help.
The daily cases of water-borne diseases have drastically increased at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital with 20, Civil Hospital Karachi 50, Qatar Hospital Orangi town 25, Lyari General Hospital 30 and National Institute of Child Health 150 to 200 since 23rd June.
Korangi, Malir, Landhi, Sohrab Goth, Gadap, Kausar Niazi Colony, Khuda Ki Basti (Surjani town), Kharadar, Lyari, North Karachi, Orangi, Baldia, SITE and other low-income and slum areas of the city are worst affected.
Dr Ejaz Tunio of the NICH said that water running through pipelines, meant for consumption, had become contaminated, mixed with sewage and chemicals that increased the gastro cases immensely.
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