Four die of cholera in Ambala, 67 affected

Ambala, Sep 15 (UNI) Four people have died and 67 have been affected by cholera in at least half a dozen slum colonies in the Cantonment area here, official sources said today.

While three people died yesterday, one person, identified as Virender Kumar, a class IV employee in the local higher secondary school, succumbed to the disease today.

As many as 35 people were admitted to the civil hospital.

The Chief Medical Officer said 67 people have been given treatment in the hospital during the past two days. Some of the patients, suffering from vomiting and loose motions, were admitted to private hospitals.

The cause of the disease was traced to consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic environment in the slum areas.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shyine visited the residence of Virender Kumar to console his family members. He announced immediate financial aid of Rs 10,000 to the bereaved family.

The Deputy Commissioner also visited the civil hospital to enquire about the condition of the cholera patients.

He also went around the affected colonies and directed the public health department authorities to carry out intensive checking of the water supply lines.

Meanwhile, Haryana Health Commissioner Navraj Sandhu, who also visited the affected area, said she had ordered collection of water samples from the supply lines.

She said all the residents of affected areas would be medically examined. Six medical teams have been formed for this purpose.

Ms Sandhu said there was no shortage of medicines in the hospital and the department would even arrange the medicines not available in the hospital from the market.

She also said arrangements have been made to provide treatment to the patients at Ambala and those in precarious condition would be referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. All expenses of the treatment of those referred to the PGI would be borne by the Government, she added.

UNI