100 fall ill after drinking polluted water in Sattari

bureau@herald-goa.com

VALPOI: At least 100 people from three remote villages in Sattari taluka have taken ill after reportedly drinking contaminated water.

While people from Zarme, Coporde and Charvane in Sattari began suffering from fever, vomiting and diarrhea for about three days, authorities became aware of the gravity of the situation only when 50 patients from these villages began visiting the Valpoi Community Health Centre (CHC) and other private hospitals/dispensaries in Valpoi on Tuesday. 

About 50 other patients had visited various private doctors in the area about two days earlier, but the incident had gone unreported.

When Herald contacted a patient from Zarme in Sattari~ who is admitted at the Valpoi CHC~ he stated he fell sick after consuming water.

“But we are unable to identify the source of the contaminated water as people drink water from three main sources, a well in the village, water supplied through taps and water tankers,” the patient said.

When contacted, a doctor on duty at the Valpoi CHC confirmed that six patients from Zarme and Charvane were admitted to the CHC on Tuesday. 

“Two of these six patients have been referred to Mapusa Asilo Hospital for further medical treatment,” added the doctor.

The exact reason for the illness is unclear. However, sources informed the health officer of Valpoi CHC Dr Surekha visited Zarme on Tuesday and collected water samples from a well in the village, since most villagers who had fallen ill had consumed water from that well. The samples have been sent for tests.

Some other patients suspected that water supplied through a water tanker could also have been contaminated.

With authorities yet to identify the source of the contamination, there is considerable concern in the three villages as residents are suspicious about the quality of water from various water bodies in the area.