Date:12/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041256710400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Villagers panic at six deaths in four days

S.Ramu

Deaths attributed to consumption of contaminated water, food at wedding banquet

Medical camp opened, situation under control
Leakages in water pipelines pointed out by villagers

-PHOTO: SINGAM VENKATA RAMANA

Poor hygiene: Villagers call on a young boy who fell sick due to water contamination in Sirikonda of Nalgonda district on Friday.

SIRIKONDA (NALGONDA DT.): This tiny village in Mothey mandal has been in the grip of fear following the death of six persons in the last four days.

While some villagers attribute the deaths to a wedding feast, some others blame it on the supply of contaminated drinking water. The Medical and Health Department opened a health camp to bring the situation under control.

“Yetoo artham kaavatamledu. Pelli ayyakane ee maranaalu (I am at a loss to understand the situation but deaths took place only after the banquet),” village sarpanch M. Upender told The Hindu.

Those who had consumed meat in the marriage feast served by D. Lakshmaiah on the occasion of his son’s wedding on April 2 developed health problems. “Many of them had loose motions and vomiting soon after having food at the function,” Thandu Murali Mohan, civil assistant surgeon of the area hospital at Suryapet said.

He also pointed out to the leakages in water pipelines in the village. “Some of the victims had reportedly consumed water drawn from the borewell. The officials plugged all the leakages,” the doctor maintained.

Kakani Gopaiah (75) of Sirikonda was the first victim on April 8. According to the villagers, Damarla Venkataiah (72) of Khammam and Korlapudi Rattaiah (55) of Siripuram of Nadigudem mandal too died at their places on the same day.

Two more persons -- R.Venkataiah (71) and B.Venkatesham (61) -- died the next day. Incidentally all of them had taken part in the feast.

50 villagers affected

About 50 villagers, including those who didn’t partake the banquet, too developed nausea and other complications. All of them were treated at various hospitals and at the health camp.

Many villagers had to spend more than Rs. 15,000 on treatment. One among them was Uppala Naveen, an 8-year-old boy, who was bedridden at the area hospital for four days.

However, many villagers were unhappy with the water supply mechanism and the unhygienic surroundings around the water source. The village has a population of 5,000. However, Dr. Murali Mohan said, the condition of people in the village was under control.