KARIMNAGAR: Korutla town has been witnessing several deaths due to viral fevers. As many 15 persons, most of them children, died of fevers in the last three weeks. Thanks to the unsafe drinking water supplied by the municipality and stinky drains in the town.
On October 8, three persons died of fevers in the town. They included Saleh, 22, Hameeda, 50, of Hyderguda and V. Gangadhar of Ambedkar Nagar. All of them died while undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Before that, seven persons died of fever in different parts of the town. The town has 31 wards and a population of 62,000.
According to people in the town, the rising incidence of viral fever can be attributed to the contaminated drinking water and poor sanitation system. "Water being supplied by Korutla municipality is not safe for drinking. The water is not being properly chlorinated. Consequently, people in the town limits are contracting water-borne diseases," said P. Laxmi Rajam, a homemaker living in ward No. 21.
M. Sunil of ward No. 6 faulted the civic authorities for neglecting their duties. Many drains are not being cleaned everyday. “The drains are stinking and acting as ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” he lamented.
When asked, Korutla municipal commissioner A. Vani Reddy said several measures were being taken to prevent spread of viral fevers. “Drinking water is being chlorinated everyday.
The authorities are conducting awareness programmes on cleanliness among public,” she said.
