More than 30 residents of different wards in Khursipar region of Bhilai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are suffering from upset stomach, loose motion and suspected diarrhoea. Four of them have been admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital and are under observation of medical officials.

It may be mentioned that, just a few weeks ago, owing to diarrhoea outbreak at wards of Camp I region in BMC, two people lost their lives and over 75 were admitted to different hospitals after they were diagnosed with diarrhoea.

But with the fresh suspected outbreak it appears that the Bhilai Municipal Corporation has yet again failed to provide clean drinking water to residents of its wards and now owing to contaminated water supply, residents of wards in Khursipar are suffering from stomach infection as a result of the contaminated water.

According to the information, contaminated water supply in the wards for the past few days was the main reason for their suffering. Several persons in the ward have complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and other diseases. Most of the ward residents are taking medicine from various private and government hospitals.

A resident of Shivaji Nagar in Khursipar ward, Ratin Sahu and others said pipelines which are supplying water to the households are soaked in drain water and employees of civic body do not take any step to clean the drains. The pipelines are old and as a result there are holes in it and dirty water from the drains gets mixed drinking water. He said for the past few days, contaminated water was being supplied to the ward, due to which people are falling ill. On getting information, a team from primary health center Khursipar including medical officials organised a camp, during which 39 patients were identified. There were more than 50 patients in the wards who were reported affected by the contaminated water supply in the wards, said a resident. The department has sent a mobile medical unit to take blood samples of people with stomach upset, fever and other problems which are symptoms of diarrhoea. Health officials have advised people to boil water before drinking. During an investigation by the corporation, it came to light that there were leakages in the pipes in some places resulting in the water getting contaminated. The officials and staff of the primary health center in Khursipar inspected 200 houses during which 39 patients were found suffering from dysentery. More sick people have been called for examination to the government hospital. BJP Leader and Corporator of Ward 38 Khursipar, Piyush Mishra has blamed the civic officials and agency concerned for irregularity and blunders in laying of water supply pipelines under AMRUT Mission, which now creating potential threat for residents in form of diarrhoea, upset stomach and loose motion. Dr J P Meshram, Chief Medical and Health Officer informed that at present, all patients are suspected cases and after the report from the lab, the health department will take further steps. As per precautions, the health department and primary health center of Khursipar have started a campaign and health workers are advising people to boil water before drinking and cooking purposes.