GUJRANWALA: The gastroenteritis and diarrhea broke out in and around the city while private and government hospitals were full with patients.

At least 55 patients, including 30 children, have been admitted to DHQ Hospital while over 100 patients of both gastroenteritis and diarrhea are getting treatment in private hospitals.

It was learnt on Saturday that doctors were prescribing expensive medicines to patients, particularly minor children, which were not affordable to most of them. The shortage of doctors and paramedics was also causing problems for the patients.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Anwer Aman confirmed to Dawn that scorching heat caused the outbreak of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in the city and its surrounding areas.

He advised the people to save themselves and their children from sunstroke, avoid eating food from vendors and use boiled water.

GETS LIFE-TERM: Additional district and sessions judge Aqib Nazir handed down life-term on two counts each to two accused in a dacoity-cum-murder case of constable here on Saturday.

The court acquitted three co-accused -- Muhammad Ali, Nadeem and Imran – by giving them the benefit of the doubt.

According to the prosecution, convicts Amjad and Zeeshan had shot dead constable Nazim Iqbal on resistance during a dacoity bid and also drove away with his motorcycle in Dhulley on Dec 3, 2010.

PHYSICAL REMAND: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 1 judge Muhammad Imtiaz granted on Saturday five days physical remand of three accused involved in a kidnap case of a minor boy.

Sabzi Mandi police informed the court that accused Rehan, Usman and Ismail had kidnapped minor Asad for ransom and took him away to Rawalpindi. They later released the boy after getting Rs175,000 ransom amount from his family.

Police requested the judge to grant 10-day physical remand, but he granted five days.

INMATES INJURED: Four prisoners of the central jail were injured in a clash between two groups of inmates on Saturday.

It was stated that the Hameed Chattha group and the Ejaz group attacked each other with fists and kicks. As result, four prisoners suffered injuries and were admitted to the jail hospital.