Team Herald

VALPOI: The number of illness cases at Shelpe village in Sattari is increasing, as another four patients were admitted at Valpoi Community Health Centre on Tuesday. For the last 15 days, Shelpe has been facing an outbreak of stomachache and stomach upsets.

Health Department official as well as officials from the PWD Water Supply Division have taken precautionary measures to control the situation. Samples of water from a bore well, and also from the river, have been collected for testing. The report on the water from the bore well has come clear, while the report on the river water samples is awaited.

According to Health Department officials, people have taken precautionary measures to control the illness, but there has been a rise in the number of patients.

Treated water, from the water treatment plant at Dabose, is being supplied to villagers in Shelpe through water tankers. The work of replacing all the old pipes of the bore well has also begun. After replacement of the pipes, water samples will again be collected to ensure there is no contamination taking place in the bore well water, Eknath Paste, Assistant Engineer Water Supply Department, Valpoi said.