3 diarrhoea deaths in Tarn Taran village

The deceased have been identified as two-year-old Arshdeep Singh, 40-year-old Hardev Singh and 60-year-old Jagir Kaur. Sources said the area was dotted by pools of dirty water that have not been cleared since long and these were contaminating the potable water supply.

Sources said earlier, diarrhoea had gripped Naushera Pannuan village too. Harjinder Singh, a resident of the area, said, 8220;In the absence of a proper potable water supply channel, people have no choice but to consume contaminated water.8221;

Balwinder Singh, another resident, charged the government with turning a blind eye towards the area.

Dr Gagandeep Singh, district epidemiologist, said the Health Department was working to study the real causes behind these deaths, as the cause may not necessarily be diarrhoea or gastroenteritis. 8220;We have summoned the records of the patients from hospitals. Patients have been coming to us with complaints of diarrhoea, but it is not an outbreak.8221;

Dr Singh said the Health Department had initiated awareness programmes in which the residents were being advised to consume boiled water, use chlorine tablets and keep their surroundings salubrious.