Contaminated water kills one in Belagavi; 94 ill

Belagavi: One person died and 94 people, including 20 children and 30 women, were hospitalised on Wednesday after drinking contaminated water at Mudenur village of Ramdurg taluk, 120km from here. Belagavi District health officer Dr Mahesh Koni visited the village on Thursday and inspected the situation. The state government has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased — Shivappa Belleri, 70.
According to health department sources, the condition of 10 people is serious, and they have been admitted to hospitals in Belagavi and Bagalkot. Others, who are taking treatment at the local primary health centre, are out of danger. They will be discharged in a day or two. Most of them are suffering due to vomiting and loose motion.
Ramdurg tahsildar Mallikarjun Heggannavar said the water, which was being supplied through borewells, is found unsafe for consumption, as it got mixed with drain water. “Also, borewell pipes seem to have filthy water due to rain. Following the incident, the taluk administration has instructed the local authorities to clean the surroundings of borewells to prevent recurrence of of such incidents,” he said.
Mudenur village, having a population of around 3,000, entirely depends on borewells and lake water. In a video, district minister Govind Karjol stated that the government has taken works on giving tap connections to each household in the village under Jaljeevan Mission Scheme of the central government. “About 70% of the works has already been completed. Each household will get tap water in a month,” he said.
Speaking on the death of a person, the minister said he has spoken to chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, and he has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh compensation. “Unfortunately, Shivappa did not respond to treatment. The condition of others is good, and there is nothing to worry. I have directed the officials to take care of all those who are ill,” Karjol added.
Karjol said that the villagers were alerted — through a public announcement — about well water being contaminated. “But the unfortunate incident happened as people consumed the same water, ignoring alerts. The villagers must consume water provided through RO plants installed in the village,” he said.