Deccan Herald 05.01.2010
| 60 girls fall ill after drinking contaminated water | |
| Bijapur, Jan 4, DH News Service: | |
Nearly 60 girls residing in a hostel fell ill after consuming contaminated tap water on Monday. | |
The girls who complained of vomiting and dysentery were rushed to the district hospital. About 20 girls were discharged from the hospital after treatment while another 40 are still undergoing treatment. Similar cases were reported from different localities of the town. Residents of Hamal Colony, Gandhinagar, Station Back Road and Shikarkhan also reported similar symptoms. When contacted, District Health Officer Dr H R Hiregowder, who was in Bangalore, confirmed to Deccan Herald that the cases were due to consumption of contaminated water. A team of doctors were sent to various localities in ambulances to reduce the pressure on the hospital. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner R Shantaraj visited the government hospital and supervised the treatment being provided. He directed the hospital authorities to ensure that there would be no negligence in treating the girls. Activists of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), who met the deputy commissioner at the hospital, submitted a memorandum alleging that the girls took ill due to food poisoning and demanded action against the warden. The deputy commissioner then ordered the district Backward Classes and Minority Officer to conduct an enquiry into the matter and submit a report immediately. Out of danger District hospital doctor R Y Bellubbi said the girls were recovering and all of them were out of danger. When asked if it was a case of food poisoning, he clarified that it was due to consumption of contaminated water. Sources close to the deputy commissioner office informed that the deputy commissioner had ordered for an enquiry about contaminated water being supplied by the City Municipal Council. | |
