ALAPPUZHA: With rising summer heat, a new threat to the people's health has come from ‘Kulukki sarbath’ prepared using crushed ice to the brim of the glass, sarbath and lemon.
Wayside shops selling the drinks have sprung up all over the district and the customers take them unaware of the unhygienic way the drink is prepared. This has given rise to the spread of diarrhoea among the users too.
Last year, the medical wing here had opened a 24-hour control room and the DMO had urged the district administration to ban these drinks in the wake of the outbreak of diarrhoea cases. But this year no such action has been taken.
"We are regular customers of the kiosk but we are unaware of the hygiene of the ice pieces used to prepare it. It's heavenly in taste and of course affordable," says Subhash, a student. The cost varies between Rs 10 and Rs 20. It was alleged that ice was manufactured using contaminated water.
Ratheesh, a local resident, said the sale of such drinks, which can cause health hazards, should be curbed.
"According to the Kerala Municipal Act, these mobile shops have to get a licence from the corporation/ municipality. Illegal kiosks should be closed," he said.
Vijesh, who runs a kulukki sarbath kiosk on Alappuzha-Changanassery road, said he was buying ice pieces from plants where he did not know how ice was being prepare.
“We don’t want to serve unhygienic drinks. The authorities have to take action against those who prepare ices pieces,” he said.
