SIALKOT, May 13: As many as 60 gastroenteritis patients including women and children were reportedly admitted to various government hospitals in the district on Saturday.

Reports said 30 gastroenteritis patients, including eight members of a family, were admitted to Pasrur THQ hospital in critical condition, while several women with similar complaints were also brought to the Allama Iqbal Memorial DHQ hospital and Sardar Begum Memorial DHQ hospital, Sialkot.

Meanwhile, a large number of gastroenteritis patients were also witnessed at private clinics and hospitals in the district.

Child specialist Dr Abid Ali Ranjha told journalists that mostly minor children were hit by the ailment which became fatal in such hot weather.

He said more than 2000 children with gastroenteritis were admitted to Daska THQ hospital during the last one week and the number was rising.

Dr Tahir Iqbal Cheema suggested that people should avoid direct exposure to sun and should take plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.

District Officer (Health) Dr Shakil Ahmad Butt said the local health department had taken several measures to over come the disease and more doctors and paramedical staff had been deployed at district’s hospitals to attend the patients.

GUNNY BAGS: Wheat growers are facing an acute shortage of gunny bags in Sialkot and Narowal districts.

They pinned the shortage on Sialkot food department officials for their failure to fulfil their requirement.

A group of local wheat growers, led by councillors Muhammad Shafi and Papa Ghulam Rasul, said that 85 border villages in Bajwat were suffering the most owing to the improper and poor planning of the food department.

They said that thousands of tons of wheat yield had been lying in fields under the open sky as growers were unable to transport them to procurement centres because of non-availability of gunny bags.

The situation was repeatedly brought to the notice of the department concerned, but no steps were being taken to arrange gunny bags to meet the need of growers, they claimed.

Meanwhile, district food controller Rohail Butt said the food department was making every efforts to provide gunny bags to wheat growers in far-flung areas.

The DFC said that more than 90,000 gunny bags were being arranged for purchasing 9,000 matric tons of wheat from growers of Bajwat villages.

He said the frequently collapsing of a belly bridge over River Tavi near Saidpur Pattan caused a delay in providing bags to growers in Bajwat area.

The situation would become normal in a few days after the repair of the bridge which was going on rapidly, he claimed.