Villagers say six, not three, died consuming contaminated water in Tumakuru

G Parameshwara, who is also the district in-charge Minister, today visited the hospital and enquired about the health condition of those undergoing treatment.

Tumakuru: Following the death of six persons at Chinnenahalli village in Madhugiri taluk allegedly after consuming contaminated water, Home Minister and district in-charge Minister G Parameshwar visited the district hospital on Thursday to interact with the family members of the victims.

While Chikkadasappa (76), Peddanna (74) and three-year-old Meenakshi died at the district hospital and private hospitals on Wednesday, the locals have been alleging that three more-- Hanumakka (85), Nagappa (85) and Nagamma (90)-- had died on June 10 with similar health complications.

Family members of victims who died on June 10, charged that officials have hidden the real reason for the death of these members. While Family members claim that they died after complaining of vomiting and diarrhoea, the health officials have declared them as having “died due to age-related ailments”.

A total of 98 people had taken ill after consuming contaminated water from an overhead tank and a pure drinking water unit in the village during a fair at Chinnenahalli on June 7.

Villagers said it is the responsibility of the officials to provide clean and potable drinking water to the citizens. “The panchayat and taluk administration officials have not taken measures to clean the sources of water. For several months now they have not cleansed the overhead tanks or tested the quality of the RO plant. This has resulted in the tragedy,” said the residents of the village.

The government has suspended Chinnenahalli PDO B V Muniraju and waterman S Nagaraju on the grounds of dereliction of duty.