Diarrhoea outbreak: Lives lost in Baltana, Zirakpur authorities unmoved

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, August 11

Twenty new cases of diarrhoea were reported from Ekta Vihar in Baltana today. Five patients were referred for hospitalisation while an equal number of patients were discharged from the hospital today.

“Five patients have been referred to the Community Health Centre in Dhakoli. Patients who have complained of vomiting and loose motions have mild diarrhoea-like symptoms,” said Dr Adarshpal Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Mohali.

With new cases being reported every day, the administration is yet to identify erring officials, whose negligence led to the death of two persons and hundreds of cases with diarrhoea-like symptoms. Despite several cases of diarrhoea being reported from neighbouring Panchkula weeks ago, officials of the Zirakpur Municipal Council and the administration failed to wake up to the threat here. As a result, a three-year-old girl, Sunaina, and a 30-year-old mason, Ravinder Kumar, had to pay the price with their lives.

Dera Bassi SDM Kuldeep Bawa said, “We are probing the matter as to how the contamination took place. We will fix responsibility for this negligence and appropriate action will be taken shortly. The contamination has been plugged now by the Zirakpur Municipal Council.”

Zirakpur MC officials said the exact location of the contamination had been found near House No. 249 in Ekta Vihar in Baltana where tap water was getting contaminated with sewage water.

The officials said the contamination with sewage water took place due to an old, worn-out pipeline in the area and had been fixed. Two-three more leakages were found today and were plugged. The officials concerned have been directed to take all steps to check contamination.

Wadhwa Nagar, Sadashiv Enclave, Hem Vihar and Golden Estate are among the areas that get tap water supply from here. The civic body has made arrangements for water tankers to cater to these residents.

“All new cases reported today are from houses next to the place where the contamination was detected,’’ said a health official.

He said the water sample taken from the main tank had been found fit for drinking, but there was contamination in the lines. In Dera Bassi too, several people fell ill due to contaminated water in Shivpuri Mohalla.

More leakages found

Zirakpur MC officials said the contamination with sewage water took place due to an old, worn-out pipeline in the area and it had been fixed. Two-three more leakages were found on Wednesday and were plugged.