Now, infected water in Sec 18-B & D

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

Water contamination has spread from Sector 18-C to Sector 18-B and D today. The UT Health Department and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today received complaints of water contamination from these parts of Sector 18.

So far, 400 persons have complained of abdominal discomfort.

Dr Rakesh Kashyap, Director, Health Services, today said the health team surveyed 625 households in Sector 18-B, C and D. He said 183 residents from these areas visited the Health Department van, which was stationed in Sector 18-C. As many as 150 residents reported symptoms of diarrhoea while 33 complained of abdominal discomfort.

He further said the team of the Health Department also collected water samples from eight households, which were sent for testing. He said the reports of these samples would be received on Monday. In the 16 water samples which were taken yesterday by the Health Department, no contamination was detected, Dr Kashyap said. He added that the survey and sampling of water would continue on Sunday also. 

In fact, the Health Department also collected water samples from the MC tubewell located in Sector 18 and the waterworks of Sector 26 from where the water is supplied in the area. The samples were sent to the Civil Dispensary, Mani Majra, and the report will be received on Monday. The team from the Health Department comprising 14 field workers, including an epidemiologist, Dr Inderpal Singh, conducted the surveys in Sector 18 today.

‘Thorough check being conducted’

MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma said they had also collected samples of H2S (hydrogen sulphide) to check the organic matter. The report will come after 24 hours. Besides, the dead end of water supply in the entire Sector 18 was flushed out again on Saturday. The sewerage lines and a manhole were also flushed. The fault had been repaired but still, the team was conducting a check in the entire sector, he said.

 MC Chief Engineer visits area

MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma, Superintending Engineer Sanjay Arora and others on Saturday inspected the area behind the Sector 18 C showroom, where the fault was detected and repaired. Thereafter, the MC Chief Engineer also met residents in Sector 18 B and collected water samples for chlorine test. The water was collected from those houses from where the complaints of water contamination were received. There was no problem in the samples. He also visited Sector 18 where samples were taken from the tubewell. 

‘Water is contaminated’

The water is contaminated in our locality. Even my four-year-old niece has fallen ill. — Inderpreet Singh, a resident of Sector 18-B

‘There should be regular check’

My family members and I have been suffering from abdominal problem. The authorities should regularly check water supply in the city. — Sunil Chopra, A resident of Sec 18-C