Chennai Corporation has confirmed that three persons admitted to the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH) have cholera. According to the officials, one child from Taramani, and one adult each from Pullapuram in Chetpet and Tiruvottiyur had been found to have cholera.
As for diarrhoea, nine persons were admitted to the city hospitals, including CDH. The number of people with diarrhoeal disorders undergoing treatment at the Government Kilpauk Hospital on Tuesday was 31, including 11 children. All the patients are from Chetpet. In KMC, one woman was admitted and in CDH, eight persons were admitted. A total of 39 are being treated at CDH.
A week after the epidemic broke out in Pullapuram, Ossankulam and Bhoopathy Nagar in Chetpet area, residents remain worried about regular supply of water. At the height of the epidemic one woman died of renal failure, a direct result of acute diarrhoea.
Residents of Ossankulam say water supply has been suspended by the Chennai Metrowater since Saturday and metro water tankers had been deployed to provide water. However, since Monday, the metro water tankers had not been sighted.
“I am away at work but I learnt from people that the tankers have not been coming to the locality. With pipelines cut we are facing a major problem,” said Kesavan, a resident of Ossankulam.
“We have been suffering silently for almost three months,” said Magesh, an autorickshaw driver of Pullapuram. The authorities had not taken any action despite repeated complaints, he said. “Just make sure that we get good quality water,” he appealed.
According to Magesh, the sewer across the road is full. The hand pump at the entrance to Pullapuram is a source of water but no effort has been made to drain the stagnant water around the pump.
“We cannot blame anyone because the workers come and clean it sometimes but it gets blocked repeatedly. When the rains come we are sure to have more problems,” Magesh said.
Former Mayor M. Subramanian, in a release, had charged the Corporation of apathy. “The AIADMK government took over when 99 per cent of construction and expansion work was completed in CDH. But till date, the hospital has not been opened for public use.”
He suggested that at every council meeting the Corporation should invite an official of the rank of superintending engineer from Metrowater and Sewage Board and must set up committees to address the grievances of the council members.
“It is necessary to take steps to speed up works and prevent spread of diseases by ensuring that garbage is cleared,” he added.
