The numbers included 52 children who drank water from overhead tank which was poisoned
Health minister C. Vijayabaskar and Adi Dravidar welfare minister Subramanian consoling those admitted to government hospital in Pudukottai on Saturday. Collector C. Manoharan and director of public health, Dr Palanisamy, accompanied the ministers
Pudukottai: Tension prevailed in Kovilur village in Pudukottai after 142 people, 52 of them children, complained of headache and nausea after drinking water from the village water tank.Based on information received from the locals, Kovilur village panchayat president Panneer Selvam, along with revenue officials, inspected the overhead tank. They found that the drinking water had been poisoned and had turned blue.
“Pesticide covers were also found near the overhead tank and the police have begun investigations into the issue,” local revenue officials said.The affected villagers were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Pudukottai by Saturday noon.Doctors at the government hospital said 77 women, 13 men and 52 children were admitted to the hospital. “Some complained of headache and vomiting, and the rest, dizziness.
We gave intravaneous fluids to a few patients and all were discharged by the evening,” the doctors said.A senior official from the directorate of public health confirmed that pesticide had been mixed with the drinking water, causing the nausea. “Fortunately, the overhead water tank was up to its brim and had 30,000 litres of water diluting the impact of the pesticide. The people affected are now stable and water supply is being provided to the village through water tankers,” the official said.
Later in the day, health minister, Dr C. Vijayabhaskar, along collector Manoharan, visited the hospital and enquired about the health of the patients. The local police have registered a case and further investigations are on.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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