Three people died between December 4 and 5, and several others were hospitalised after reportedly consuming contaminated water in Pallavaram of Chennai. The deceased have been identified as Thiruvethi, Varalakshmi and Mohanarangan, who were residents of Kamarajar Nagar (Tambaram Municipal Corporation’s 13th ward) and Cantonment area (Ward 6 under Alandur constituency). Several other residents from these two localities in Pallavaram were also hospitalised between December 4 and 5, with complaints of diarrhea and vomiting.
Residents have reported that officials from the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation have sent water samples for examination and that the mortal remains of the deceased have been sent to Chrompet Government Hospital for a post mortem.
They also said that the water from the municipal corporation’s pipes appeared cloudy and was discoloured on December 4. According to reports, water in the Cantonment area had been contaminated for several days and that residents had flagged complaints of water contamination with the authorities. The complaints were allegedly ignored.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises, TM Anbarasan, on Thursday, December 5 told the media, “If it was a case of water contamination, hundreds of residents residing in these areas would have been affected. We are suspecting food contamination since one of the hospitalised persons mentioned that she had consumed fish before her symptoms showed.” He also said that the cause of these deaths would be ascertained from the post-mortem reports.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General secretary and the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswamy said, “Drinking water is a basic amenity. It is the duty of the government to distribute it with utmost care. After a cyclone passes our shores, the government should ensure that drinking water is being supplied properly without any contamination caused by damages in pipelines.”