Death by water

The 8220;VVIP constituency8221; is now under the grip of jaundice which has assumed the form of an epidemic with at least 15 deaths being reported and scores of others admitted in hospitals. The government has now admitted that the supply of contaminated water through the Jal Sansthan water corporation was the sole source of the spread of the dreaded disease. It has also been decided to take measures, though belatedly, to combat the menace.

The disease began in Rajajipuram where the firstcase of jaundice was reported around one month ago. It soon assumed alarming proportions with a considerable number of people in the area getting affected. But the government did not take action at the initial stage even as the disease engulfed other areas including Rakabganj, Akbari Gate , Sadatganj, Maulviganj and Nazirabad.

Cases were also reported from posh areas like Gulistan and Mall Avenue. The government woked up only when four persons died owing to jaundice. Afsar Abbas died on February 25. Soon Rajajipuram reported the second jaundice death when G.D.Paul died.

With jaundice spreading to more areas including posh localities like Kalidas Marg and the Gulistan colony, the panicked government has now directed officials in the Health Department to maintain a daily report of the damage and also decided to distribute chlorine tablets to children in their schools. Another controversy erupted when the packets of chlorine tablets distributed by the Nagar Nigam were detected to be old. Packets weredistributed after the expiry date a girls inter college in Khrusheed nagar.

A collection of samples of potable water being supplied to VIP areas like Kalidas Marg where the Chief Minister has his official residence revealed that the chlorine content in water was below than what is required to kill germs. 8220;You can gauge the plight of those living in other areas. When the Jal Sansthan cannot ensure supply of chlorinated water to VIPs what can we expect,8221; said Ram Gopal Singh, whose son is struggling for life at KGMC Hospital, Lucknow.

Jal Sansthan MD Rashid Khan admitted that the spread of jaundice was an outcome of the supply of contaminated water but he put the blame on illegal water connections which develop cracks in pipelines. 8220;Pipelines are cracked at several joints where the milkmen get their animals bathed. How can we ensure germ-free supply of potable water under these circumstances?8221; he said.

Health Minister Ramapati Shastri, however, is busy holding emergency meetings and has directed thatadequate supply of medicines for jaundice victims should be kept in hospitals and an extra care should be given to jaundice patients.

8220;All preacutionery measures are being taken to ensure that the disease is not spread to newer areas while directives have been issued to ensure proper care of victims in hospitals,8221; says the Health Minister.

But the citizens are fuming. 8220;My family is forced to drink contaminated water for last 20 to 25 days. Compliants have yielded no results,8221; said Dr. T.P.Pandaya, a resident of Vikas Khand in Gomti Nagar.