A protest was staged in Dera Bugti’s Pirkoh tehsil on Saturday against the water shortage and the alarming increase in the number of cholera cases, which has risen to 2500. The death toll continues to climb and several of the patients are in critical condition. Lack of health facilities and delayed government response have also exacerbated the situation.
According to reports, water shortage and the initial cases of cholera had started to appear in mid-April, but the officials did not take timely notice of the issue. The number of infections at that time was 1500, health officials have said.
Dera Bugti District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Azam Bugti told the media that 210 new cases of cholera were reported on Saturday. He said that two patients had died today, bringing the death toll to six, which also includes two children. Other patients are in critical condition and the death toll is expected to further rise.
Locals in Dera Bugti staged a protest on Saturday in the scorching summer heat against the paucity of clean drinking water and the lack of notice by the chief secretary and other government officials. The protestors demanded that Pirkoh be declared calamity-hit and water, food, medicines and other necessary facilities be provided.
The protestors also contested the death toll provided by the officials, saying that at least 20 people have so far died of cholera and 3200 have been infected.
In videos posted on social media, the FC soldiers can be seen forcing and threatening the protestors to end the protests and head back home.
The Balochistan government is being criticized on social media for the delayed and inadequate response in the Dera Bugti. In a recent media interview, Chief Minister Quddus Bizenjo claimed that the situation in Dera Bugti is under control and it is being deliberately exaggerated on social media.
Provincial Secretary Agha Saleh Nasir said that the situtation in Dera Bugti is getting out of control. He said that the number of cholera cases is increasing by 50 per cent every day.