More diarrhoea cases surface in Zirakpur's Baltana

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 10

Two days after the outbreak of diarrhoea, the civic authorities in Zirakpur today claimed to have found the source of contamination of water at Ekta Vihar Colony near Baltana and fixed the problem.

• Also read: Samples of tap water fail test in Baltana

The Executive Officer of the Zirakpur MC said water and sewer pipes were passing through the area near the water tank at Ekta Vihar. He said few years ago, there was a leakage in the sewer pipe and the contractor, instead of replacing the pipe, had used a rubber pipe to check the leakage. He said with the passage of time, the pipe had worn out, resulting in leakage, which contaminated the water in three colonies — Ekta Vihar, Ravindra Enclave and Harmilap Nagar in the Baltana area.

He said they had now fixed the leakage and added that action would be taken against the guilty contractor for not replacing the damaged sewer pipe.

Two persons, including a three-year-old girl, have died of diarrhoea in the Baltana area. A few weeks ago, a nine -year-old boy had died due to the outbreak of cholera in the adjoining Abheypur and Budhanpur villages in Panchkula. Zirakpur MC president Udayvir Dhillon said they had now fixed the problem and fresh water supply had been resumed in all three colonies. He said the water pipes were laid during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal, but it never repaired these.

Meanwhile, 55 fresh cases of diarrhoea were reported from the three colonies. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Adarshpal Kaur, said medical camps were being held in all three colonies and they were keeping a close eye on the situation. She said a medical team and ambulances had been stationed in the area and free medicines were being provided to the affected people.

Pipe had worn out over time

The Executive Officer of the Zirakpur MC said water and sewer pipes were passing through the area near the water tank at Ekta Vihar. With the passage of time, a pipe had worn out, resulting in leakage, which contaminated the water at Ekta Vihar, Ravindra Enclave and Harmilap Nagar.

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