In 8 months, eight children die of diarrhoea in Rajpura
Patiala, June 18
The diarrhoea outbreak in Rajpura is not a one-off incident, eight children have fallen prey to the disease in the last eight months in the town.
In November last year, six children, including five girls, had died during the outbreak at a Dheha Basti, a slum in Rajpura. After eight months, now two children have died of diarrhoea at Shamdoo camp.
Though the government has announced Rs 50,000 aid to kin of the victims, action against the officials, who had been assigned to check illegal water connections, is yet to be taken.
The lab reports have suggested that there was mixing of sewage and drinking water as samples had bacterial contamination. Patiala DC Sakshi Sawhney on Friday directed officials to check illegal water connections and submit action taken report by June 20. When asked about deaths due to the outbreak over the past nine months, the DC said she would inquire into the previous outbreaks also.
24 more cases reported: Govt
- The Health Departmenton on Saturday said 24 fresh cases of diarrhoea were reported at Shamdo camp
- The total number of affected people has now reached 171
- Around 37 patients are admitted to Rajpura Civil Hospital
- Dr Divjot Singh, district epidemiologist, said the lab reports to ascertain the cause of the outbreak were awaited
