About 500 people living in DLF New Town Height Flats in Kochi seek medical care as they suffer vomiting and diarrhoea, suspected to be due to drinking water contamination. Affected people opine that E. coli bacteria was found in the water, and it is above the permissible limit. Even children below 5 are among the affected ones.
The residents have been getting water from reservoirs and wells besides the Kerala Water Authority connection. Authorities have to ascertain the sources of bacteria and the causes of its spread. Currently, all water sources have been temporarily shut off, and the residents are being supplied by water tankers.
The Municipal Councilor of the area told the media that contamination is suspected, but a clear idea will be available only after the test results of the samples collected by the Health Department officials are known. He said that Health authorities and peoples’ representatives have visited the flat complex. The councilor added that summer drought followed by heavy rains might have contaminated the water in the bore well.
The District Medical Officer reportedly said that whether there is E. coli or some other bacterial contamination will be revealed only when the laboratory test results are in hand. Initial reports that there is E. coli presence in the water were received by the residents themselves. They collected samples and tested them in private laboratories. Tests to ascertain the presence of all microbes will take 48 to 72 hours.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George assured that strong action would be taken in the matter as per the Public Health Protection Act.
The DLF residential complex consists of 15 towers and more than 1200 apartments. More than 5000 people live there. The news of the large-scale issue has shocked the entire state. People are scared of depending on water tankers. This should be viewed against the backdrop of the tall claim of the Pinarayi Government that Kerala maintains Western standards with respect to health, hygiene and education. But, soil, water and air are polluted. Keralites are famous for hygiene and health-consciousness. But the latest development is shocking.
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