Twenty-seven Dead from Contaminated Water in Pakistan

Contaminated water from a public reservoir is believed to have killed as many as 27 people and sickened more than 3,000 over the past two weeks in the southern city of Hyderabad, health authorities said in a statement Thursday.

A government investigation to determine the cause of the contamination is under way. Officials have said they believe water in Lake Mancher, which supplies Hyderabad, may have been contaminated by chromium, lead, and other toxins flowing from upstream factories.

The contaminated water has caused an epidemic of diarrhea and vomiting. Public health officials have urged citizens to chlorinate or boil their water before consuming it.

Source: AP