Vijayanagara (Karnataka): The death toll in the drinking water contamination at Makarabbi village of Huvinahadagali taluk in Vijayanagara district rose to seven on Monday after an elderly woman succumbed in the hospital. More than 50 people of Makarabbi village fell ill and were admitted to hospital on September 23 with diarrhoea and vomiting after drinking contaminated water.
As of Oct. 5, 2021, six people from the village died. One more old woman Nagamma Doddabarikera (72) of Makarabbi village has died on Monday. She was admitted to the local hospital. She was being shifted when her health deteriorated but she died on the way to Taluk hospital.
More than 200 people have been affected by contaminated water to date and they are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Bellary, Hospet, Haveri and Hubli.
There are three borewells in the Makarabbi village through which people get drinking water. According to villagers, among these three borewells, the water of two borewells is not potable. It is alleged that water was supplied via these two borewells by the negligence of the Gram Panchayat.
This incident created panic among people and some of the Makarabbi villagers have already migrated to nearby villages. Some are still evacuating. Some people sold their livestock for treatment.
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Taluk Health Inspector Dr Vinod said that 9 cases of vomiting and loose motion were reported first on Aug. 26 and they were admitted to a nearby hospital. They responded to the treatment and recovered. A team of officers visited the village and collected water samples. On Sept. 23, cases of vomiting and loose motion were reported from the village again.
The district administration opened a temporary hospital in the village and two ambulances were stationed to shift the patients in case of emergency. Now supplying borewell water is stopped and tanker water is supplying to the village, he explained.
The Karnataka government on last Tuesday announced an ex gratia of Rs.3 lakh to the families of those who died after drinking contaminated water in a village in the newly created Vijayanagara district and also ordered an inquiry into the deaths.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the government has taken serious note of the incident and an inquiry led by IAS officer Munish Moudgil will be conducted. He has to submit the report in a week, Bommai told reporters.
The CM said those responsible for sewage water getting mixed with tap water, be it local officers or engineers, will face action. Expressing sorrow over the tragedy, the Chief Minister said an ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh will be given to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, MD Kumar, Assistant Operating Engineer of Sub Division of Rural Drinking Water and Hygiene, has been suspended on the charges of Omission of Duty.
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