Chitradurga (Karnataka). The death toll in the Kavadigarhatti water pollution case in Chitradurga district rose to five on Friday, while the number of people admitted to the hospital rose from 36 to 149.
According to local officials, at least 16 people are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their condition is said to be serious.
There is resentment among the public against the apathy of the authorities due to this development.
Parvatamma, 60, died on Friday at her residence in Kavadigarhatti. His treatment was going on at his home for three days. He was sent back from the hospital after showing signs of improvement. But Parvatamma, who was suffering from paralysis, died this morning. Nine family members of Parvatamma, including a one-year-old child, are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The condition of two is serious.
50-year-old Rudrappa, who was admitted to Basaveshwara Hospital in Chitradurga, died this morning due to vomiting and diarrhoea.
The water pollution incident was reported on July 31. Manjula (23) and Raghu (27), residents of Kavadigarhatti on the outskirts of Chitradurga, died and 36 others fell ill after drinking the contaminated water. Praveen, who had visited his relatives in the village on July 30, died the next day at Vaddarasiddanahalli.
India’s Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A.K. Narayanaswamy visited the residence of deceased Rudrappa and consoled the family members.
In Chitradurga, people protested against the administration and local Congress MLA K.C. Protested alleging negligence on Virendra Pappi. Following protests by priest Shivsharan Harlaiah and Dalit leaders, MLA Pappi visited Basaveshwara Hospital.
The FSL report of the water sample has confirmed that no toxic chemicals were found. It was alleged that miscreants might have mixed poison in the water after a POCSO case was registered against a local person. However, reports have confirmed that the tragedy occurred due to contamination of water.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed the district authorities to initiate strict action against officials found guilty. Officials AEE R. Sent a report recommending suspension of Manjunath Giraddi and JE SR. Prakash, who worked as a valve operator in Kavadigarhatti, was also suspended by the district commissioner.
People here claimed that the authorities were not probing the conspiracy hatched by miscreants in the background of casteism. People say that the findings of the reports related to the case are contradictory. At present, water is supplied through water tankers in the locality. However, the officials have dismissed the foul play theory.
