Hyderabad: More than 150 residents from the Chilkalguda and Lallaguda railway quarters, including 40 children fell ill after drinking contaminated water.
The water is supplied to the residents by railway authorities and they were immediately rushed to the Secunderabad area railway hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
The children are stable but have been kept under observation at the railway hospital. More than 800 residential quarters have been supplied water from the rail authorities.
The water is first supplied by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWSSB) and the railway authorities distribute it.
And now a blame game has started between three parties – the railways, the HMWSSB and the residents. Residents claim problems began on Sunday when a few people started complaining of vomiting and troubled stomachs.
On Monday, 100 people fell ill and authorities swung into action. An HMWSSB team inspected the railway tanks at the quarters and found them to be “highly polluted”.
“The HMWSSB gives bulk supply of one Million Gallons per day to the Railways. The Railways in turn are responsible for internal distribution. The chlorine and chemical levels at our distribution centres are within limits,” said Mr Rameshwar Rao, director Operations and Maintenance – HMWSSB.
But residents claim the water was completely yellow in colour and when RC (Residual Chlorine) level was checked, it was found to be zero. The railways have now ordered an enquiry into the incident.
