Protests held in Dera Bugti as cholera outbreak, water shortage get out of control

Must Read

Genocide is the only option in Balochistan – Pakistani Minister declares

A Pakistani minister in Balochistan, who is de-jure head of security apparatus in the region, has declared that genocide...

Aslam Baloch — The Baloch General – TBP Special report

For seventy years, through ups and downs, successes and failures, with rapid and slow pace, the Balochistan’s...

State’s deadly weapon, Shafiq Mengal – The Balochistan Post report

Strings of suicide bombing in Sindh's Shikarpur city and firing incident on BSO azad's rally in Khuzdar got connected...

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.

SourceTBP

Latest News

U.S. Warns of Sanctions Over Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline Project

In a recent statement, the United States has raised concerns regarding the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, signaling...

Nushki: Attack on Intelligence Agency’s Office

Two back-to-back explosions followed by multiple gun fire rocks the Nushki city of Balochistan on Tuesday. According to reports,...

Three Individuals Commit Suicide in Pasni and Kech

At least three suicide incidents have been reported in a single day in Pasni and Kech areas of Balochistan.

Deadly Attack Claims Lives of Five Chinese Nationals and One Pakistani in KP

A convoy traveling through Bisham tehsil in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district was attacked, resulting in the loss of lives of five...

BLA Announces Completion of ‘Operation ZirPahazag’ Phase 5 with Over 30 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Turbat

The Baloch Liberation Army's (BLA) unit, the Majeed Brigade, has successfully concluded the fifth phase of 'Operation ZirPahazag', targeting the PNS Siddique...