200 ill as diarrhoea strikes

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 27

As many as 200 persons have fallen prey to diarrhoea outbreak in ward numbers 9 and 10 of Phillaur. The outbreak has also claimed the life of resident Suresh Rani (50) in ward number 9.

Rani died on Saturday due to vomiting and loose motions. People of several streets across both wards have been taken ill due to the outbreak. Among areas hit by the outbreak include Mohalla Malaha, Uchi Gheti, Mohalla Sheikhan, among others.

While the outbreak was reportedly caused by sewerage water mixing with the clean water supply, the contamination caused due to this gave rise to the outbreak in the area. As many as 40 water connections were also cut in the area by teams of the sewerage board today, owing to concerns regarding the mixing of the contaminated water.

While Member of Parliament, Jalandhar, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, visited the wards yesterday, it was after a magisterial inquiry was marked by him in the matter to the Deputy Commissiner that various departments sprung into action. Teams of the Health Department also visited the area today, with Civil Surgeon Dr Maninder Minhas also visiting the area.

There were nine new patients suffering from diarrhoea and complications caused by water contamination today. Chlorine tablets were also distributed to residents by health teams. The teams also took several water samples from the area.

Ward number 9 councillor Neetu Dabar said, “The problems regarding water contamination have been persisting for the past over a week. The water being received in homes has been extremely dirty. Entire areas have been affected by the outbreak. Every house on some streets has three or more patients. The area is also very backward in the region. There are 110 widows in my own ward. On top of it, the outbreak has piled up on the problems faced being faced by the people.”

Ward number 8 councillor Paramjit Bhatti said, “While the authorities have sprung into action now, the outbreak has covered a huge area. It has also affected over 200 people. The work is on to plug the leak, only after that clean water supply can be resumed.”