Ex-MLA blames MC officials for two diarrhoea deaths

Shiromani Akali Dal treasurer and former Dera Bassi MLA NK Sharma today blamed Zirakpur Municipal Council (MC) officials for the two deaths and more than 100 cases of diarrhoea reported from Nabha village since the last two weeks.

Laying the blame squarely on Zirakpur MC officials and the ruling AAP government, Sharma said, “A murder case should be registered against civic body officials. One man and a woman died in the village after contracting the disease. Who is responsible for their deaths. It is a callous disregard for human life.”

Sharma said this while visiting the affected village and meeting residents suffering from the disease. Officials said 16 patients reported with mild symptoms today.

More than 100 patients have complained of diarrhoea like symptoms, upset stomach due to contamination of drinking water supply in the village. Despite repeated request, the authorities did not pay head to complaints of dirty water supply and foul smell emanating from the tap water. It was only on Sunday that public health officials detected leakage near Gugga Madhi and plugged it.

Sharma pointed out squalid conditions in the village, sewage overflow, unsanitary living situations, dirt in streets and public areas. “Even after outbreak of the disease the Zirakpur MC has not begun fogging in the area,” Sharma alleged.

Zirakpur MC Executive Officer Parvinder Bhatti said, “Fogging is being done regularly. The MC is taking special care of sanitation in the area. Water samples and pipelines are being double checked. There is leakage in pipes which were 25 years old. We are soon going to replace them with new ones.”

A woman, Manjit Kaur, 48, died yesterday night, while her father-in-law, Jai Singh, 80, died a few days ago. Village residents said a 65-year-old man was admitted to the GMCH-32 after his health condition deteriorated at the Dera Bassi hospital. They said the people had been complaining about upset stomach since September 25 here. A team of doctors is camping at the village.