NAWABSHAH, May 3: Two children died in Nawabshah Medical College Hospital due to gastroenteritis and pneumonia while dozens of others were admitted to the hospital and other health units on Saturday.

One-year-old Abdul Samad died of gastro while Salma, 9 months, died of pneumonia in the paediatrics emergency ward of Nawabshah Medical College Hospital (NMCH).Dozens of other cases of gastroenteritis and pneumonia, cerebral malaria and meningitis were reported in NMC Hospital and other health centres.

The children affected from gastro admitted to the NMCH included Zuaib, Yasir, Dua, Soni, Javed Abdul Rehman, Imtiaz, Taseen and others.

A doctor in paediatrics emergency ward told Dawn that the ward was receiving at least 25 to 30 patients of gastro, some 6 to 8 cases of meningitis, 10 cases of pneumonia and an average 50 cases of meningitis daily.

According to EDO Health Office, some 44 cases of gastro were reported in the three health centres of the district in last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the district continued to remain in grip of heat waves and the mercury remained at 47 degree Centigrade on Saturday.