149 diarrhoea cases reported in Dabolim residential building

Vasco: Nearly 149 suspected diarrhea cases were reported from Prabhu Violetta building in Dabolim. Suspecting a possible contamination of water, the Mormugao deputy collector issued directions to various authorities, on Wednesday.

“Health department is monitoring the situation. Residents of the building have been told what precautions they should be taking while using the water,” said deputy collector Bhagwant Karmali.

On Tuesday, the occupants filed a complaint against the building at the Vasco police station, alleging the water supply they receive from the bore wells within the complex was polluted.

“All the flats in the building receive supply of water from bore wells. We have reasons to believe that bore wells are infected,” an occupant said. The cases, he said, were being reported over the last four to five days, but as they multiplied, the authorities were informed.

“The health department, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have collected samples of water stored in sump, bore wells, and overhead storage,” said Dr Tejan Lotlikar attached to the Cortalim primary health centre.

The laboratory reports, Lotlikar said, are expected by March 28. He, however, ruled out the possibility of water contamination due to overflowing sewage even as complaints of overflowing sewerage chambers were received. “We have taken samples of stool and blood of the residents to rule out the outbreak of typhoid and other bacterial infections,” Lotlikar said.

The occupants, he said, received portable water from PWD, but its use is limited to the kitchen. For other uses, they receive bore well water, he said citing the builder’s report.