Water CRISIS, Power Failures: Pakistan’s city facing major problems…

Karachi: People in Karachi continued to face acute water shortage, with many not even getting water for their daily needs. The reason for the acute water shortage is frequent K-Electric (KE) power outages, which have hampered the city’s water pumping operations, DAWN reported. A Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) spokesperson stated that Karachi’s K-3 pumping station faced a massive electrical breakdown on Thursday night. This happened just a day after the city had suffered a 41-hour power cut.

Why is Karachi Facing A Water Shortage?

After the restoration of the power supply, the officials at the pumping station detected a fault in the electricity wiring, forcing the pump station to shut down once again. The station was closed on Monday due to the fault but the issue remained unresolved, further worsening the water shortage in the city.

Was Water A Reason For The Gastroenteritis Outbreak?

Last month, nine people, including six children, lost their lives a gastroenteritis outbreak in a village named Faiz Muhammad Burro Goth which is located near Bahria Town, the outskirts of Karachi.

A report by The Dawn stated that the deaths occurred days after people in the village consumed contaminated water and food during a funeral gathering. Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho also confirmed, citing an initial probe, that the contaminated meal and water are expected to be the source of the dreadful infection.

A health emergency was declared in the affected region and neighbouring Malir district. The authorities also put all local hospitals on high alert. District health officers (DHOs) also monitored the situation. As per Malir’s DHO, Dr Imdad Channa, the gastroenteritis outbreak originated in Jamshoro and hospitals located in Dumba Goth and Murad Memon Goth are treating the affected patients.

Notably, the villagers had been using water for their daily use from an uncovered underground tank, which is suspected to be the main source of contamination.

Authorities have sent the water samples for lab analysis.

Gastroenteritis also known as stomach flu, spreads quickly through contaminated food and unsafe water. It causes symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever.