People are reaching the hospital after complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and body tremors. Not 100 or 200 but a thousand people reached the hospital. This incident has come to light from Uppunda in Udupi district of Karnataka. More than 100 people fell ill after drinking contaminated water from a local water tank here. A health department official said, the condition of none of the sick people is serious. Most of them have already recovered after proper treatment at the local health center. He said that most of the affected people are from Karki Kalli and Madikal wards of Uppunda Gram Panchayat of Byndoor taluk, who reported symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Dangerous bacteria found in water test

The official further said that in many houses, several family members showed similar symptoms and in many houses, three or more people were reported to have fallen ill after consuming the contaminated water. Udupi District Health Officer Dr. I.P. Gadhad said that the water supplied in both the wards was found to have the 'waterborne pathogen Salmonella bacillary'.

The official said, we sent a team on September 30 to investigate the situation in both the villages and the nearby villages that use the same water source. During the investigation, the bacteria was found in 56 cases. To date, we have found about 150 cases.

Demand for immediate solution to the problem

According to village panchayat members of both wards, there was no water supply for three days before the incident. Later, dirty water was supplied to the villages and those who filtered or boiled it before drinking did not show any such symptoms. Gadhadh said, we are investigating the reasons for the supply of dirty water.

Residents blamed the water contamination on poor maintenance of the water tank. The water supply from there has been stopped. Officials said the villagers have demanded an inquiry into the incident and immediate measures to resolve the problem.