Gastroenteritis cases reported from Palampur

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, December 21

Eignteen gastroenteritis cases were reported today from Latwala village, six km from here, last night. Ten persons were admitted to hospitals in Palampur and Gopalpur.

An officer of the Health Department said here that most patients had recovered but were still under treatment. He said contaminated water was the possible cause. He said a team of Health Department rushed to the village and collected water samples which were sent for chemical analysis.

SDM Balwan Chand Mandohtra, along with officials of health and IPH, inspected the water sources. He ordered for chlorination of water tanks so that further damage was checked. He also met the ailing villagers in PHC Gopalpur and assured them full assistance.

Meanwhile, Executive Engineer, IPH Palampur, ruled out the possibility of water contamination. He said over 1,500 residents were getting water from the same source. Only 18 had suffered with gastroenteritis. He claimed that the tank was cleaned only two months back. Besides, the department was taking all precautions like regular chlorination of water sources and tanks.