KOLKATA: At least three persons, including two women and a child, died and more than 70 people have been hospitalised with diarrhoea in the Kamarhati area, allegedly due to contamination of water supplied by Kamarhati Municipality.
A health department official, however, said two persons died since Tuesday morning. While one of the deaths had nothing to do with the outbreak, the other person died of renal failure.
Most of the affected people suffering from fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting were admitted to College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital Kamarhati. The affected wards are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Kamarhati Municipality are mostly located in Kumor Para, Shalpatabagan, Nawdapara and Kamarhati Jute mill area.
“Since Saturday, about 70 people with symptoms of diarrhoea from Kamarhati have come to Sagore Dutta hospital. Three persons died while others were admitted. We had already collected water samples from five places and sent it for testing,” a senior civic officer said.
The civic officials also collected water samples from the Hooghly river water treatment plants. It has also sent water tankers to the affected areas.
Residents have stopped using water supplied by the municipality and started buying packaged drinking water.
A civic team led by former vice-chairman Tushar Chatterjee, civic administrative member started campaigning in the affected area to spread awareness. “We are worried about the situation and monitoring on regular basis. Medical camps have been set up,” Chatterjee said.
