Diarrhoea outbreak in Zirakpur's Baltana?

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 9

A day after a three-year-old girl died allegedly due to diarrhoea, another person succumbed to the infection in the Baltana area of Zirakpur today, while the condition of three more is stated to be critical.

The deceased, Ravinder Kumar (30), of Ekta Vihar used to work as a labourer.

Yesterday, three-year-old Sunaina had died after complaining of vomiting and loose motions.

A total of 171 more cases were reported from Ekta Vihar, Ravindra Enclave and Harmilap Nagar in Baltana today. Around 60 patients have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula.

Interestingly, the civic body has so far failed to find the source of contamination.

Girish Verma, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Zirakpur, who visited the area, said the civic body was checking the source of impurity in drinking water as there was a suspicion of sewage getting mixed with the supply.

A nine-year-old boy had died due to cholera outbreak in the adjoining Abheypur village in Panchkula last month.

Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur, while confirming the death of Ravinder Kumar, said the “deceased had complained of vomiting and loose motions and died today”.

She said they had carried out a door-to-door survey of 426 households in the area and distributed 300 packets of ORS and 1,000 tablets of chlorine.

Besides, blood and stool samples had been collected to verify the cause of the infection. Water samples were also being tested, Dr Kaur informed.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said the water supply to the area had been stopped and residents were provided drinking water through tankers.

Dayalan said he had also sought a report from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

He said a medical camp had been set up and health workers, along with an ambulance, had been stationed in the area.

Meanwhile, senior SAD leader and local MLA NK Sharma visited the affected area and blamed the Congress government for the outbreak, saying that “they completely failed to do their job”.

Sharma demanded that a “murder case” be registered against the officials who were responsible for the contamination of water. He also sought Rs25 lakh as compensation for the families of each victim.

60 admitted to Civil Hospital in Panchkula

A total of 171 more cases were reported from Ekta Vihar, Ravindra Enclave and Harmilap Nagar in Baltana on Monday. Around 60 patients have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula. The civic body has so far failed to find the source of contamination.