MITHI: The death toll from malnutrition and related illnesses in Tharparkar’s district headquarters Mithi rose to 46 this month after three more infants died over the past 24 hours, hospital officials said on Saturday, as concerns mounted over food shortages and limited healthcare facilities.
Officials at Civil Hospital Mithi said the three infants who died were all under one year of age and had been admitted with severe complications linked to malnutrition and cold-related illnesses. The deaths have occurred over the past three weeks, during which dozens of undernourished children have been brought to the hospital for treatment.
The medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Mithi said the infants were severely underweight and suffering from multiple ailments, adding that cold weather conditions had further aggravated their fragile health. He said 70 children remain under treatment at the hospital, many of them presenting symptoms linked to prolonged malnutrition.
Hospital authorities said the children’s ward has an official capacity of 70 beds, but 76 children suffering from cold-related complications and other illnesses are currently admitted, putting additional strain on available resources.
Parents of the affected children said the paediatric intensive care unit lacks adequate medical facilities, equipment and staff to deal with the growing number of critically ill infants. Several families appealed directly to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to ensure improved healthcare services and better medical infrastructure for the district.
Tharparkar has long struggled with chronic food insecurity and limited access to healthcare, with seasonal spikes in child mortality frequently reported during periods of cold weather and drought-like conditions. Local residents say delays in treatment and shortages of medicines further worsen the situation for vulnerable families.
In a separate incident, police said a 45-year-old man was beaten to death in an apparent land dispute in the Bacha Kalan area of Mithi on Saturday.
The victim was identified as Altaf, a resident of Bacha Kalan. Police said he was attacked and tortured by his rivals following an escalation in a long-running land dispute between two groups.
Officers reached the scene after receiving information about the incident and shifted the body to a hospital for medico-legal procedures. An investigation into the killing has been launched.
Police said the suspects fled the area after the attack and efforts were under way to trace and arrest them. Investigators said the dispute had been ongoing for some time and intensified on the day of the incident, resulting in the killing.
Authorities said further inquiries were continuing in both cases.
