SANGAREDDY: Two people died while 40 others fell seriously ill after purportedly drinking contaminated water in Sanjeevraopet village of Narayankhed Assembly constituency. However, officials have contested this claim by the residents and asserted that the water was not contaminated. They have also maintained that the deaths were unrelated and not caused by drinking contaminated water.
Officials said the drinking water supply under Mission Bhagiratha was halted on Thursday. Villagers said this had forced the residents to rely on water from an open well for drinking purposes.
Most affected persons were shifted to Narayankhed government hospital while a few were admitted to private hospitals. M Mahesh (23) and B Saiamma (86) died while undergoing treatment.
Narayankhed MLA P Sanjeeva Reddy and officials visited the village.
Meanwhile, villagers claimed that the vomiting and diarrhoea began after drinking water from the well, but Mission Bhagiratha officials disputed this.
Mission Bhagiratha Superintending Engineer Raghuveer explained that the village had been receiving water through the pipeline to two tanks. But, the water supply to some areas was interrupted on October 10 (Thursday) due to a buffer pump repair.
The issue was resolved within two days, and the supply was restored, he insisted.
The SE added that water samples from both the well and the Mission Bhagiratha supply were sent for testing. According to the test reports from an external lab and the Mission Bhagiratha lab, no contamination was found, he emphasised.
No link between deaths and water, insists DMHO
District Medical and Health Officer Dr Gayathri Devi visited the village on Sunday. A round-the-clock medical camp has been set up, and drinking water is being supplied through Mission Bhagiratha and tankers. She said Mahesh, who died on the 11th, had been treated at Sangareddy Government Hospital for vomiting and diarrhoea, which were brought under control. However, as he continued to suffer from severe stomach pain, his relatives rushed him to a private hospital in Sangareddy, where he was declared dead, the official said, suggesting that his death might have been due to appendicitis.
She said Saiamma was had died of old age and pre-existing kidney problems. Of the 30 people admitted to the hospital, all but four have been discharged. A ‘108’ ambulance has been stationed in the village to handle any further emergencies.
