Another water tank contaminated in Solan

Tribune News Service

Solan, October 1

The water tank of Radha Soami Satsang ashram at Kunihar was found contaminated with a poisonous substance this afternoon, taking the number of such cases to six in the last few days.

Arki DSP Narvir Rathore, who visited the spot soon after receiving the information around 2 pm, said the matter was being probed.

He said there were two inter-connected water tanks and since there was a small fencing of barely 2-3 feet, miscreants had used that to gain access. The presence of a steel ladder in the vicinity had aided this mischief. The two cemented tanks have a capacity of 25,000 lt and supply water to the community toilets of the ashram.

He said the incident came to light when an ashram inmate was washing face. He complained of foul smell emanating from water.

The ashram is located on a link road abutting Kunihar and like previous cases, its location too is isolated.

Sources in the police said lab reports had indicated the presence of pesticides in water samples collected earlier.

Since the sale of pesticides requires maintenance of records pertaining to the stock as well as buyers, the police are examining all such records. Officials said if laxity was found on the part of sellers, appropriate action as per law would be taken against them.

It has become a tedious task for the police to crack down on offenders as there has been no let-up in such incidents since Monday. Several public, private water tanks and a hand pump have been targeted. The Solan SP has constituted a special team to inquire into such cases which have caused a panic.