DADU, Jan 13: Five children died of measles on Tuesday in the Hero Khan village of Kachho area, 32 kilometres from here, while 40 other children are stated to be in serious condition.

Those who died were Fozia, 4, daughter of Ishaq Leghari; Imran, 5, son of Sachal Leghari; Basran, daughter of Mohammad Hashim Mastoi; Saleem, 3, son of Dilawar Mastoi; and Abdul Hakeem Mastoi.

A villager, Irshad Ahmed Leghari, told this correspondent that measles had spread in the village some 30 days ago and he had informed the health officials but neither a medical team was sent to the village nor a medical camp was established there.

He said that measles patients were not being treated because their poor parents had no money to purchase medicines. He appealed to the provincial minister, secretary and the EDO of health to send a medical team to the village.

Meanwhile, MPA Dr Manzoor Ahmed Leghari visited the affected village and assured the affected families that he would ask the Sindh chief minister and the health minister to send a medical team to the village.

Dadu EDO (health) Dr Maula Bux Jamali said that he was unaware about the death of the children. However, the EDO said that he had directed the Johi taluka health officer, Dr Hashim Thaheem, to establish a three-day camp in the village, for which medicines had been provided.

LOADSHEDDING: The power supply remained suspended from 9am to 4pm in the city of Dadu and surrounding areas on third consecutive day on Tuesday.

The power supply suspension affected business, office work and operations in the Civil Hospital. The manager, National Bank of Pakistan, Dadu branch, Basheer Ahmed Samejo, said that due to daily suspension of power, the bank officials and account holders were facing hardships.