Indora residents blame contaminated water for jaundice outbreak

Nagpur: At least 50 residents of Indora and adjoining areas in Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Mangalwari zone are suffering from jaundice. Residents claimed to be getting contaminated water supply since the last couple of days.
“Many residents have contracted jaundice with some even being hospitalized,” said Dr Vicky Tirpude, a physician in Balkrishna Mohalla. According to another physician Dr Ragini Nikose, patients with high bilirubin count and symptoms of liver infections had increased manifold in the last few days.
TOI spotted saw virtually every alternate house in Balkrishna Mohalla had a patient of jaundice. Dr Tirpude endorsed this stating the health issue had now reached alarming proportions. He claimed at least four patients with symptoms of jaundice visit him every day.
Residents claimed as the areas come under NMC’s Prabhag 9, which has three BSP and one Congress corporators, the ruling BJP was neglecting the civic issues here. Jai Ramteke, a resident, claimed though new pipelines were laid in their locality, OCW was yet to start water supply through it.
Devendra Ramteke, a resident of Balkrishna Mohalla who is suffering from jaundice, fears he might have fallen ill due to contaminated water. The situation has deteriorated with two more family members Preeti and Nimisha contracted jaundice. Now, as a precautionary measures, the family is consuming water from NMC’s tap only after boiling it.
Neighbours of Ramteke, Manisha Uikey and Kanchan Meshram, too are down with the waterborne disease for last couple of days. Residents claimed they have lodged complaints with NMC’s Mangalwari zone and Orange City Water but no action has been taken. “Drinking water pipelines are getting contaminated as sewerlines crisscross them at some places. Neither the NMC nor OCW is taking cognisance,” he said.
After TOI brought this to the notice of OCW, their team visited the locality. It came across two illegal connections. They suspect the water may be getting contaminated due to this reason. The team disconnected both the illegal connections. Residents said as they were paying water bills regularly, NMC or OCW should bear their medical expenses.
NMC’s medical officer Dr Govardhan Navkhare said he had not received any complaint pertaining to outbreak of jaundice. He admitted receiving reports of sporadic cases of water borne diseases from across the city and assured to look into the Indora case.
Since alternate-day water supply system was adopted, many areas in Nagpur are getting contaminated water, residents from across the city told TOI on Thursday. Ramnagar area, residential localities in central and east Nagpur too complained of receiving contaminated water for some time when supply was resumed after a day.
INFOBOX
* Doctors in Indora, Balkrishna Mohalla see steep rise in jaundice patients
* Illegal connections contaminating potable water
* OCW disconnects two illegal connections
* NMC health department to visit the locality tomorrow
* Team will collect water samples