Zirakpur: Diarrhoea outbreak in Peermuchalla?

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, September 12

Fifteen patients were hospitalised and 138 cases of patients with diarrhoea-like symptoms reported from the Peermuchalla area of Zirakpur today, the health authorities said.

‘Most of them migrants’

We have stationed water tankers in the area. Most of the cases reported on Sunday were of migrant labourers. We are not ruling out the possibility of cholera, diarrhoea or dengue. — Kuldeep Bawa, SDM, Dera Bassi

Several patients are reported to have been admitted to the Sector 6 hospital in Panchkula. Most of the cases reported are of migrant labourers residing in a locality near a sawmill. There was a beeline of patients and attendants and a panic-like situation in the Dhakoli hospital, eyewitnesses said.

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Water contamination is suspected to be the cause of large-scale diarrhoea-like symptoms among patients. The water supply to the area has been stopped after the Health Department raised the alarm.

“The department is conducting a survey to ascertain the number of patients with diarrhoea-like symptoms in the area. Blood samples and stool samples are being taken to ascertain the cause. Water samples from the affected areas will be taken tomorrow to confirm the nature of contamination,” said Dr Pommy Chatrath, in-charge, Dhakoli hospital.

Dera Bassi SDM Kuldeep Bawa said, “We have stationed water tankers in the area. Most of the cases reported today were of migrant labourers. There is no case in housing societies till now. We are not ruling out the possibility of cholera, diarrhoea or dengue.” The incident comes a month after a three-year-old girl, Sunaina, and a 30-year-old mason, Ravinder Kumar, died and hundreds of residents complained of diarrhoea-like symptoms in the nearby Baltana area of Zirakpur. Despite a cholera outbreak, the administration failed to identify erring officials.

Civil Surgeon visits Mubarikpur camp

The Mohali Civil Surgeon, Dr Adarshpal Kaur, visited the affected area of Trivedi Camp and gave instructions to health officials after reviewing the situation. Residents of the village complained that drinking water was contaminated. Three persons have died under mysterious circumstances at Trivedi Camp village, Mubarikpur, in the past one week. The deceased have been identified as Muskan (16), Paranjal (17) and Inderjit Singh (45). All of them complained of fever and abdominal pain. A fever survey was conducted. Water samples were taken from water supply lines in the affected area and reports would be available soon. The water supply to the affected area had been snapped, said Civil Surgeon. She also visited the Health and Wellness Centre at Mubarikpur and reviewed work of the staff and enquired about the survey. Dera Bassi SMO Dr Sangita Jain and health teams are keeping a close watch on the sick.