12 water samples fail

LUDHIANA: In a bad news for the people residing in Sherpur, 12 of the 14 water samples taken by the district health department failed the purity test. Along with that more than 40 gastroenteritis cases have been reported from the area.
Sources said in a medical camp organized by the health department, around 20 cases had surfaced, however, some of the patients were taking treatment at private clinics in Sherpur and adjoining areas.Around 10 patients had been admitted to Civil Hospital, nine to Rama Charitable Hospital and 11 to Oswal Hospital.
More than 350 people have been affected with the disease with 11 deaths reported in the areas near Sherpur. But, the residents alleged that this being an ignored part of the city, nobody bothered to check what was happening here. Even after so many reminders, the councillor, mayor, or the authorities did not take any kind of action.
Though the health department had identified the risk areas, including Giaspura, Daba Road, Sherpur, Newshimla Puri Kot Mangal Singh, Madhopuri, Salem Tabri, Amarpura, Issanagri, Aslam Ganj, Dhakka Colony, Dr Ambedkar Colony but nothing had been done. Sources said this year till now the health department took water samples from various high-risk areas and surprisingly most samples failed the test. "If we talk about the previous figures there is no improvement in the condition. According to the reports by the health department in July, 164 water samples were taken out of which 144 failed," the sources added. Talking to TOI, district epidemiologist GP Mangla said that around 35 gastro patients had come, including mild as well as acute cases.
While confirming that only two water samples had passed the purity test, he added that the health department did a house-to-house survey in the area.