Sudden Diarrhoea outbreak scares residents of South Kolkata, water contamination feared as reason

Kolkata, February 12: South Kolkata goes under the fear of Diarrhoea as over 650 residents of Baghajatin area show the symptoms of the disease. Almost 300 victims went to Baghajatin state Hospital for treatment. Any infection in drinking water is being assumed as the reason of the outbreak.

From Friday night, the number of affected persons has crossed 700 already as local residents are complaining. But, KMC is somehow denying the statistics and wants to project it as 429. Fearing contamination in water, the residents are not drinking KMC water but opting for bottled waters. Shopkeepers are exploiting the demand of bottled water by demanding more money than fixed MRP.

"At the moment, 28 people suffering from diarrhoea are admitted to Baghajatin State General Hospital today," said Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee while he visited the affected wards. e have collected samples from 82 places so far and nothing was found wrong. We have seen that not all in a family drinking the same water were ill. We are, however, conducting a thorough check of the distribution system," he replied on the question of contamination.

Usually, water is distributed here from Dhapa water treatment plant. Local people have alleged that leaks in the underground water supply pipes had led to the contamination after drinking water got mixed with sewer water. ORS solution has been distributed in the area and KMC doctors are closely monitoring the situation.