Water contamination leaves 15 ill in remote Andaman Village

Port Blair, June 27 (UNI) As many as 15 people, including an infant, who complained of severe vomiting, fever and diarrhoea, were admitted in a Government Hospital at a remote village in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

''The incident was first reported on Sunday and patients are still coming,'' said Dr Smriti Bithawarey, Medical Officer of Billiground Primary Health Centre, situated in Middle Andaman region.

Following water contamination, the villagers suffered acute stomach pain with over 60 people being brought to the hospital.

''All the cases were reported from a single village--Tauratang, of Middle Andaman -- and it looks the reason is water contamination,'' Dr Bithawarey told UNI.

The local administration has alerted the Andaman Public Works Department(APWD) to check all the pipelines through which the village is connected with Lauki Nallah water reservoir.

''Though after a thorough check-up and medical advise the number of cases are reducing, the problem is still unsolved. We are advising the villagers to consume boiled water and PRI members have also been asked to spread awareness about water contamination,'' she added.

Sources said the UT's Directorate of Health Service is sending a special team of doctors from Port Blair to the remote village for further investigation.

Preventive measures have also been taken which include cleaning up of all water tanks, chlorination of all drinking water sources with bleaching powder and proper disposal of garbage and other waste materials by the panchayat.

UNI SKR PL PA DS1400