2 die, over 100 fall ill due to diarrhoea outbreak in Patiala village

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Rajpura, June 17

A diarrhoea outbreak at Bathonian Khurd village in Rajpura block has left two people dead and over 100 ill, over the last three days.

The villagers on Saturday complained of loose motions and vomiting reportedly due to the contaminated water.

Unfortunately, 18-year-old Preeti died on Saturday itself while 30-year-old Satwinder Singh died on Sunday, allegedly, due to gastroenteritis.

The villagers informed The Tribune that Satwinder was brought to Civil Hospital on Saturday, but the doctors at the hospital discharged him on the same day after giving some medication.

Villagers blamed that the doctors had discharged him (Satwinder) without getting normal and on reaching home his health started worsening.

He died on the way while he was being taken to hospital the next day.

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra said that post-mortem had already been conducted and reports were awaited.

In the meanwhile, health officials informed that 92 patients were found infected with diarrhoea on Sunday and 32 on Monday by the health department.

The civil surgeon added, “We have already stopped the water supply, and potable water is being provided to the villagers through tankers.”

Shinder Kaur, a patient at Civil Hospital, Rajpura, said, “I am having loose motions and vomiting for the last two days. After health officials visited the village on Monday, I was taken to hospital.”

On Monday, dozens of new patients were admitted at the hospital as the outbreak continues.

Baljeet Singh, uncle of 18-year-old Aman Kaur who was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, said, “The doctors here are asking patients to go home after giving some medications without the patient being completely healthy.”

Meanwhile, senior medical officer (SMO), Rajpura, was not present at the hospital when The Tribune visited the hospital.

When contacted, the SMO, said, “Today is government holiday, I am at home.”

The emergency medical officer, Rajpura Civil Hospital, said that 16 patients had reported from the Bathonian Khurd and nearby villages over the last two days.

Civil surgeon Patiala said the health authorities provided treatment to patients suffering from vomiting and loose motions at the outreach camp organised in the said village on Monday.

Health officials informed that 6700 chlorine tablets and 862 ORS packets had already been distributed in the village.