40 taken ill due to water contamination

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, MARCH 5. About 40 persons were admitted in the General Hospital here today after drinking contaminated water supplied through taps. The incident created panic in neighbouring localities. Four girls, below 10 years age, were seriously ill, but doctors said there was no danger to their lives.

In Hyderabad, the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressed serious concern at the supply of contaminated drinking water, and directed the Secretary, Municipal Administration Department, Mr. A. K. Goyal, and the Anantapur District Collector, Mr. Somesh Kumar, to take steps to ensure that clean water is supplied to the people of Anantapur. The Chief Minister also instructed that proper treatment be provided to those admitted to the hospital.

The residents of IV and V roads and Peddammagudi street in the new Town started vomiting and had loose motions since morning. They were immediately rushed to the General Hospital and the number rose to 40 within a couple of hours. Shortage of beds made the situation worse as the incoming patients were forced to lie on the floor.

According to the patients, they had taken the water stored on Sunday evening, as drinking water was being supplied on alternate days here by the Municipality. Mrs. Rameeza Bi said they were hospitalised after drinking the water supplied through the public taps. She said the water was contaminated but they were not aware of it.

Another patient, Mr. Ramanjaneyulu, explained that the water could have been contaminated through a broken drinking water pipe. It was broken when the telecom department had dug trenches for their work two days ago. A few other patients were admitted in private hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Chairperson, Mr. K. Noor Mohammed, suspended two employees, Mr. Chinna Krishniah and Ramiah, of the Water Supply (Public Health) Wing. Mr. Mohammed said the action was taken because of the delay in the employees bringing to the Municipality's notice about the pipeline being broken. The District Collector, who visited Hospital, said the problem of gastroenteritis spreading through contamination would crop up every summer due to insufficient availability of water. A contingency plan with an outlay of Rs. 11 crores had been prepared to overcome the water shortage, the Collector said.The Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Rangachari, said the civic body was ready to supply water through tankers till the problem was over. All necessary measures like chlorination were taken by them before supplying the water. In addition, chlorine tablets were also being distributed in the affected areas for putting them in the stored water.

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Section  : Southern States
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