Diarrhoea outbreak in Patiala, 96 cases reported from 3 areas
Mohit Khanna
Patiala, July 15
The residents of Patiala district are paying the price of poor civic amenities as a total of 96 cases of diarrhoea have been reported from three separate locations of the district. While 48 cases were reported in Patran, 43 incidents have been reported from Jhill village, as many as five cases have been reported in Mohindra Colony of the district earlier during the week.
Basti residents feel neglected
Former mayor Sanjiv Sharma Bittu blamed the reckless road drilling for the frequent outbreak of diarrhoea outbreaks each season. He said that roads have been drilled for installing fibre-optic cables and at several places, the water pipelines have been cut. During monsoon, the overflowing sewerage water often mixes with the punctured water pipeline leading to spread of diarrhoea.
In all the cases, mixing of sewerage water with the drinking water was found to be the reason behind the outbreak.
The latest outbreaks were reported near Shiv Temple of Patran city and Jhill village and surrounding area, while diarrhoea outbreak in Patiala city’s Mohindra Colony has been brought under control. Pinki Devi and Babbi Kumar, residents of the area, reported that due to blocked sewers, dirty water was getting mixed with drinking water pipelines.
Many children in the settlement suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea. Many children and women were rushed to private hospital and those serious were taken to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.
The family members of majority of those suffering from diarrhoea said that they cannot afford expensive treatment at private hospital.
Ward councillor Bhagwat Singh Nikka stated that despite repeatedly informing the Pattran Municipal Council about the blocked sewers, no action was taken.
Ranveer Singh, the president of the Patran Municipal Council, said that they did not receive any complaints regarding the blocking of sewerage.
Civil Surgeon Sanjay Goel and SMO Dr Lovkesh Kumar visited the diarrhoea-affected areas.
District Epidemiologist Dr Sumeet Singh water samples were collected, and ORS and Zinc tablets were distributed door-to-door in Jhill and adjoining areas of Aman Bagh, Baba Deep Singh Nagar and Ratan Nagar.
Former mayor Sanjiv Sharma Bittu blamed the reckless road drilling for the frequent outbreak of diarrhoea outbreaks each season. He said that roads have been drilled for installing fibre-optic cables and at several places, the water pipelines have been cut. During monsoon, the overflowing sewerage water often mixes with the punctured water pipeline leading to spread of diarrhoea.