In two separate incidents, seven persons died in the state after consuming contaminated water. In the first incident, five people, including a newborn baby, reportedly died after consuming contaminated water in T Tumbigere village of Harapanahalli taluk in Vijayanagara district. The victims, identified as Suresh (30), Mahantesh (45), Gouramma (60), Hanumanthappa (38), and an eight-month-old infant, succumbed to severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Villagers allege that the cause of death was the consumption of polluted water, sparking accusations of negligence against the Karnataka government and local authorities.
For the past 15 days, residents of T Tumbigere have been receiving contaminated water, unknowingly drinking it and suffering dire consequences. Over 50 people in the village have been hospitalized with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. Among them, a pregnant woman named Ningamma was rushed to the Davangere district hospital, where her unborn child tragically passed away due to severe dehydration. The situation escalated further as three individuals lost their lives last week, and two more succumbed recently despite receiving medical treatment.
The deaths have sparked outrage among the villagers, who accuse the Karnataka government and health authorities of gross negligence. Despite the rising number of illnesses and fatalities, local officials and elected representatives have yet to visit the village, leaving residents feeling abandoned and helpless. The villagers claim that they had been consuming contaminated water supplied to the village for over two weeks without any action taken by the authorities to address the issue.
“Five people died after suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea. We admitted them to the hospital immediately, but the treatment was ineffective, and they passed away. We believe this happened because of the polluted water supply,” said a distraught villager. However, taluk health officials have not officially confirmed that the deaths were caused by contaminated water, stating that water samples have been sent for testing, and the results will determine the cause of death. But the delay has done little to assuage the grief and anger of the affected families.
Shockingly, this is not an isolated incident. Similar cases have been reported in other parts of the state. In Soralamavu village, located in Tumkur district’s Chikkanayake taluk, two individuals, including a young girl, recently died after experiencing vomiting and dysentery. Gundamma (60) died on Tuesday, while Bhuvaneshwari (10) succumbed to her illness on Sunday. Over 10 people from the village are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals, battling symptoms believed to be caused by drinking contaminated water.
Villagers from Soralamavu have pointed to the local mini-water tank as the source of the problem, alleging that those who drank from the tank soon fell ill. Despite these alarming developments, residents claim that district officials have been slow to respond, only visiting the affected areas after deaths occur. “Why does the government wake up only after lives are lost? They conduct inspections after the damage, but fail to take preventive measures. Our pleas fall on deaf ears, and more lives are being put at risk,” said a frustrated resident.
The rising cases of illnesses and fatalities linked to contaminated water across Karnataka highlight a disturbing pattern of negligence by government authorities. Earlier this year, in June, seven people died in Chinnenahalli, Madhugiri Taluk, after consuming polluted water. Just two months later, three more people succumbed to similar symptoms in Bullasandra village, Madhugiri Taluk. Yet, despite these tragic events, adequate measures to ensure drinking water supply safety have not been implemented.
The recurring incidents have cast a spotlight on the Karnataka government’s handling of public health and water safety. Critics argue that despite repeated warnings and incidents, the administration has failed to take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies. There have been no comprehensive efforts to regularly inspect water sources nor a proactive approach to providing clean drinking water to rural areas, leaving communities vulnerable.
The situation in T Tumbigere and other affected areas has prompted widespread calls for accountability. Local leaders, civil rights activists, and residents are demanding that the government take immediate action to address the water safety crisis. They are urging authorities to investigate how contaminated water continued to be supplied despite numerous reports of illness and to take strict action against those responsible for neglect.
“The government must own up to this failure. These are preventable deaths, and yet, nothing was done to stop this from happening. How many more lives need to be lost before they take this seriously?” said an activist. Villagers are demanding that local and state authorities ensure clean, safe water is provided to all rural communities and that proper health checks are conducted to prevent further loss of life.
The Karnataka government now faces immense pressure to act swiftly to address the immediate health crisis and implement long-term solutions to improve water quality and public health infrastructure. As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, the administration must step up to provide answers, accountability, and assurance that such tragedies will not be repeated.
The tragic events in Vijayanagara and T Tumbigere have brought to light the grim reality of water safety in rural Karnataka, exposing critical gaps in infrastructure and governance. The government’s response in the coming days will be crucial in determining whether it can restore public trust and prevent future incidents from claiming innocent lives.
