Diarrhoea breaks out in epidemic form

Karimnagar: Diarrhoea has broken out in epidemic form in Singareni colonies of Ramagundam town, leading to hospitalisation of over 200 persons. The number of patients falling ill is rising by the day.

Contaminated drinking water makes over 200 ill in Singareni colonies

The outbreak of diarrhoea has been attributed to contaminated water being supplied by the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to workers’ colonies. The SCCL has drawn flak from workers’ families. The SCCL has now appealed to the residents not to use the water being supplied by it for drinking purpose.

The water samples have been collected and sent for analysis to identify the reason for contamination. It is alleged that the water could have been contaminated because the pipelines have passed through cesspools at several places.

They said the SCCL management remained indifferent to the drinking water contamination though several complaints were made in this regard earlier.

The SCCL now started supplying drinking water through tankers to the affected areas. The district Medical and Health officials set up special camps at Bapuji Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Ramesh Nagar and other places to treat diarrhoea cases.

The Godavarikhani area hospital is finding it difficult to cope with the increasing number of diarrhoea patients. Two patients are sharing the single bed.

Some Singareni officials suspected that the water might be getting contaminated near the intake well. The drawing of Godavari water by placing sand bags across its course might be the reason for contamination, they felt.

By:Ch Gopalakrishna