More than 500 persons have been admitted to hospitals in Uthamapalayam, Chinnamanoor and other areas in Theni district with complaints of diarrhoea. Four persons had already fallen victims to it in the district.

Samples of water from the ring wells in Periyar river, which supplies drinking water were collected and analysed by the King Institute in Chennai which showed that the water had not been adequately purified and chlorinated. Consequently, divisional executive engineer Boopathi, sub division engineer Surulichamy and assistant engineer Ansari have been suspended.

SOLATIUM TO VICTIMS’ KIN

The kin of three diarrhoea victims in Uthamapalayam block of Theni district were given a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each, sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, by Collector P Muthuveeran on Thursday.

Pavithra (10) of Uthamapalayam died on May 12 and her family was paid a solatium of Rs 1 lakh on May 13. The kin of three other victims were paid Rs 1 lakh each on Thursday.

Cumbum MLA Ramakrishnan, Periyakulam ex MLA Mookiah, RDO Mohandas, tahsildar Manoharan and others were present.