Four dead, 100 fall sick to contaminated water

GANDHINAGAR - Four people, including two children, have died and 100 others hospitalized Sunday due to suspected water contamination in a Gujarat village, an official said.

Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas confirmed the deaths in Ahmedabad district’s Ghoda village.

“A team of the Rapid Response Force is also on it’s way. We have begun investigation into the cause of the water contamination,” he added.

Vyas said that a makeshift medical facility has been created in the village school while those reported to be serious are being rushed to the district hospital.

“Health authorities are on the stand by and I am personally monitoring the situation,” Vyas added.

Reports reaching here said that prima facie the cases were suspected to be those of cholera. The supply to the village households comes from a well from which water is pumped into an overhead tank.

“The possibility of contamination of water in the tank cannot be ruled out and samples have been taken for testing,” an official said.