Contaminated Water Leaves Toddler, 5 Dead, Several Hospitalised

Tumakuru
Six people, including a toddler, have died and several residents have been hospitalised after consuming contaminated water over the past four days in Chinnenahalli village, Madhugiri taluk of the district.
Two elderly people, Chikkadasappa (76) and Peddanna (74), died on Wednesday night at the district general hospital here, while 10 others, including three elderly patients in the ICUs and three children, are currently being treated.
Home Minister G Parameshwara visited the hospital on Thursday to assess the situation. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Subha Kalyan and District Surgeon Dr Asgar Baig. The minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure the supply of potable water to the residents of villages within the Chinnenahalli Gram Panchayat jurisdiction.
The local MLA and Cooperation Minister, KN Rajanna also visited the hospital. Panchayat Development Officer BV Muniraju and waterman S Nagaraju have been suspended from their services on charges of dereliction of duty.
Taluk Health Officer Dr Sreenivas informed that the samples that were being sent to the laboratory for the tests confirmed the contamination. The residents were being warned not to use the water from the overhead tank, he added.
The trouble began during the weeklong annual fair of deities Lakshmidevi and Kempannadevi, which started on June 9. And on June 10, over fifty people, including some small children, started complaining of diarrhoea, and elderly woman Hanumakka (85) died.
On June 11, two more elders Nagamma (89) and Nagappa (85) also passed away, while three-year-old Meenakshi died at a private hospital in Madhugiri town. Resident Medical Officer Dr Chethan informed that the elderly individuals died of multiple-organ failure due to comorbidities.