Diarrhoea panic in Mauli Jagran

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 17

Panic spread in the Mauli Jagran area after residents complained of a diarrhoea outbreak due to contaminated drinking water.

Affected residents were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Mani Majra, and the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula.

Ravi, who lives near the Madrasi Mandir area, claimed that 50 residents were down with diarrhoea.

“Many among them are taking medicines, while those suffering from a severe infection have been admitted to hospitals,” said Ravi.

Chaos prevailed at the Civil Hospital in Mani Majra as panicky residents rushed their kin, complaining of stomach ache and diarrhoea, to the hospital. A majority of the patients were administered glucose.

As many as 18 residents from Mauli Jagran, seven from Indira Colony and three from Mani Majra were admitted to the hospital, said Imran Malik, a social worker of the area.

Patients admitted to the hospital complained of vomiting and loose motions soon after drinking tap water, which, they said, was contaminated.

Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, said health teams had been put on a high alert.

“The public health wing of the MC, Mani Majra SMO Arun Kumar and a team of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme are screening the area to assess the situation,” said Dr Dewan.

He maintained that there was no outbreak of diarrhoea and the situation was under control. “So far, only 20 patients suffering from different ailments have been admitted to the hospital, “said Dr Dewan.

Jagtar Singh Jagga, BJP councillor, said the public health wing of the MC had tested the water, which  was found to be fit for drinking. 

An employee of the Health Department said they had received reports of a diarrhoea outbreak from Rajiv Colony in Panchkula, which falls near Mauli Jagran. He said a majority of the patients admitted to the Civil Hospital, Mani Majra, were from Rajiv Colony.

Free treatment for patients 

Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, has announced free treatment and medicines for patients arriving at the hospital with complaints of diarrhoea.  

160 houses surveyed 
Mild cases of diarrhoea 48 
ORS packets distributed 128
Water samples collected 35

Chhabra hits out at MC  

City Congress president  Pradeep Chhabra attacked the BJP-ruled MC and the Administration  over the   outbreak of diarrhoea. Chhabra visited the hospital at Mani Majra to know the well-being of people taken ill after drinking dirty water in Mauli Jagran. He  said the MC  had  failed in its responsibility. He said people   admitted to the  hospital were asked to  get medicines from outside   and there  was  no provision for drinking water in the hospital. Chhabra also visited the affected areas in Mauli Jagran.

Mayor orders inquiry 

City Mayor Davesh Moudgil has marked  an inquiry into the supply of contaminated water  at Mauli Jagran. He said the inquiry would reveal whether the  contamination  was the result of leakages  or illegal connections. He said adequate arrangements had been made to provide treatment to the people admitted  to hospitals. He said area councillor  Anil Dubey was assisting the patients. He said samples of water had been taken.