Four deaths on Islamabad outskirts raise alarms over Pakistan’s drinking water safety

Islamabad [Pakistan], October 18 (ANI): The deaths of four young people within a month in Sarai Kharboza, Dhoke Abbasi and Mohalla Usmania on the outskirts of Islamabad have raised serious concerns over drinking water safety, prompting residents to demand an immediate investigation and laboratory testing of local water supplies, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, residents have urged the federal health minister to intervene, amid reports that liver failure was involved in some of the deaths. They have called for a transparent inquiry to determine the exact causes of the fatalities and identify any potential public health risks. The deaths have renewed concerns about Pakistan’s persistent challenges involving unsafe drinking water.
World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that Pakistan recorded 38.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 attributable to unsafe water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene facilities. However, the indicator covers multiple water, sanitation and hygiene-related risks and does not represent deaths caused exclusively by contaminated drinking water. 
Dr Gul Khan of Sangjani Hospital said waterborne illnesses could result from sewage leaking into drinking water pipelines, groundwater contamination, flood damage to water sources and inadequate sanitation facilities. He emphasised that regular water quality assessments and effective safeguards against contamination were essential to protect communities.
Dr Khan advised residents to get their drinking water tested at accredited laboratories and use boiled water or reliable filtration systems. He also stressed the need to prevent sewage from entering water supply lines and urged people experiencing diarrhoea or dehydration to seek prompt medical attention, as cited by The Express Tribune.
The father of one of the deceased stated that his son had been healthy before suddenly falling ill and requiring hospitalisation. His condition worsened the next day, leading to him being placed on a ventilator. The family was subsequently informed that his liver had suffered severe damage. Despite medical intervention, the young man died three days later, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)