Waterborne illnesses plague Koppal district

Koppal: Nirmala, a 10-year-old girl of Bijakal village in Koppal district, succumbed to diarrhoea on Thursday morning. The incident raised suspicion of water contamination, considering that more than 15 individuals in the same village have taken ill with similar health issues.

Officials are awaiting the results of medical tests to determine the exact cause of the young girl's death.

The distressing issue of water contamination has plagued Bijakal and Basarihal villages since long.

Two days ago, a one-and-a-half-year-old girl lost her life in Basarihal village due to health complications. Authorities are awaiting the report on this fatality as well.
In response to the escalating health crisis, officials have promptly taken preventive measures, including supplying safe drinking water and organizing health camps. Reports indicate that several cholera cases have also been detected in some villages across the district.

Shedding light on the situation, the Koppal Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Ratnam Pandey said that in several locations, instances of illegal water connections were discovered and this can lead to water contamination.

"Our officials have been directed to rectify these issues. In areas affected by water contamination, we have halted the supply through pipelines and are instead providing water through tankers," he told Deccan Chronicle.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, special medical teams have been deployed in villages experiencing more than five cases of waterborne illnesses. Health and Aasha workers are diligently conducting regular house visits, closely monitoring the health of every individual within their jurisdiction.

"We are taking every possible measure to provide clean water to the affected population," said the CEO. 

"Anyone experiencing health issues must urgently seek assistance at the nearest healthcare facility. Timely intervention can prevent the situation from worsening," he added.