A major health scare has erupted at the Prabhu Violetta residential complex in Dabolim, where 149 cases of diarrhoea — including children and the elderly — have been report ed within days, triggering panic among residents and prompting a multi-agency probe into suspected water contamination. The outbreak, concen trated within the nearly 200-apartment housing complex, saw cases surge to 149 in just a week, with residents reporting vomit ing, dehydration and severe stomach cramps. Most pa tients have required hospi talisation as the situation escalated rapidly. Health authorities have swung into action, with teams from the Cortalim Primary Health Centre launching inspections of water sources and nearby food establishments. On March 17, the PHC team visited the complex and de tected three new cases of acute diarrhoea, taking the total count to 149 during a house-to-house survey conducted since March 14. Water samples have been collected from mul tiple points — including a flat, the underground sump supplying tap water, the swimming pool, and treat ed sewage lines used for gardening — amid strong suspicion that water con tamination is at the root of the outbreak.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board also carried out an independent inspection and sampling exercise on Wednesday. In a precautionary move, Cortalim PHC medical officer in-charge Dr Tejan Lotlikar directed the builder to imme diately stop supplying borewell water to residents until test reports are received, citing it as a possible source of contamination. The crisis has now taken a serious legal turn. On Wednesday, residents lodged a police complaint against the builder, Prabhu Realtors, accusing it of illegally dis charging untreated sewage and endangering public health within the complex. Residents alleged that untreated effluents from the Sewage Treatment Plant were being routinely released into open drains and garden areas. They further point ed out that the Goa State Pollution Control Board had, as early as March last year, directed the maintenance contractor to stop using STP water for gardening due to safety concerns. Demanding accountability, residents have urged police to register an FIR against the builder and initiate crimi nal proceedings under relevant provisions of the Bhara tiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Meanwhile, authorities have advised residents to boil drinking water and maintain strict hygiene as medical teams remain on alert to contain the outbreak and pre vent further spread
