Water supplied to Mauli Jagran led to diarrhoea outbreak: Report

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

A gross contamination of drinking water turned out to be the reason behind the diarrhoea outbreak in the Mauli Jagran area, said the Health Department report. The water sample taken from tube well No. 4, from which water was being supplied to some areas of Mauli Jagran, has failed the quality test.

It was on June 18 when the Health Department collected water samples from five tube wells which are used for supplying water to Mauli Jagran and surrounding areas.

The water samples were sent to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, District Priority Lab (IDSP-DPL) in Mani Majra.

The contamination count which should be less than one point of most probable number (MPN), turned out to be 180 MPN. The MPN is a teting method to analyse the concentration of micro organisms in the water sample. The report has been shared with the MC and the Director, Health Services, G Dewan. The test report has put the civic authorities on the back foot. The MC was maintaining that the water supplied to the area was fit for drinking. The civic body was blaming other causes behind the outbreak.

A total of 400 houses were surveyed and 100 packets of ORS were distributed by the department today and 20 fresh cases of mild diarrhoea were reported. “Coliform bacteria, suspected to have been formed due to the mixing of sewage with drinking water, were found in high consecration following the test by the District Priority Lab,” said an official of the Health Department. Besides, starting an evening OPD at the Mauli Jagran dispensary, the department formed 15 teams that are conducting a house-to-house survey.

MC cites other causes for outbreak

The test report has put the civic authorities on the back foot. The Municipal Corporation authorities were maintaining that the water supplied to the area was fit for drinking. The civic body was blaming other causes behind the outbreak.

Fact file

• Mild diarrhoea cases: 161
• Houses surveyed: 5,486
• ORS packets distributed: 1,245
• Chlorine tablets: 2,000