Health Minister visits diarrhoea-hit Patiala village

Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh on Saturday visited Patiala’s Alipur Araian village to take stock of the situation following a diarrhoea outbreak there.

So far, 138 cases have been reported, including four deaths, from the area.

He urged residents to drink water being supplied through tankers by the Municipal Corporation.

He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav and Municipal Commissioner Parmvir Singh. The minister also oversaw chlorine testing of drinking water in affected households. All samples were found to be safe.

Balbir Singh noted that while the diarrhoea cases reported from the area were mild and required no hospitalisation, 24-hour monitoring was being maintained by the Health Department.

Ambulance services and medical teams had been permanently stationed in the area and the situation was now under control, he said.

He advised residents to boil drinking water or use chlorine tablets, particularly during the monsoon season.