234 fall sick in two Haryana villages

Ambala, Aug 22 (UNI) As many as 234 persons, including women and children, today suffered from acute stomachache and vomiting in village Noorpur and Konkpur near Naggal, about 20 km from here.

Consumption of contaminated water was suspected to be the cause of the widespread ailment which struck almost every household, the Chief Medical Officer Ambala Dr V K Sharma said while ruling out a break out of cholera epidemic as feared by the villagers.

However, samples of stool and blood had been sent to hospital and private laboratories for examination, he said, adding that tablets of chlorine were being distributed door to door and residents were being asked not to use the piped water which was being supplied through underground pipes, apparently passing through dirty drains.

Meanwhile, 19 of the seriously afflicted persons were rushed to the civil hospital Ambala City while one in critical condition was referred to the PGI Chandigarh for treatment. The others were recovering after being provided treatment at the Pramary Health Centre.

The Deputy Commissioner R P Bhardwaj who ordered enquiry into the incident, said that the Health and Public Health Departments had been ordered to send teams of doctors and officials to detect the cause of the disease.

The CMO Dr Sharma with a team of doctors also visited the affected villages.

UNI