6 Dead, 100 Fell Sick After Consuming Contaminated Water During Temple Fair In Karnataka

At least six people were reported to have died while over 100 fell sick after a temple fair attendees in Karnataka’s Chinnenahalli village of Tumakuru district drank contaminated water during the event.

Thousands of people had attended the six-day-long temple fair that was started on Sunday. Devotees came from across Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The crowd was large as the event was happening after a break of 30 years, Times Of India reported quoting residents.

After the first day of the temple fair ended, many people reportedly complained of diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming water during the event. Over 30 fell ill leading to their hospitalisation at Madhugiri Taluk Hospital and Tumakuru District Hospital. Making the situation more fatal, three senior citizens undergoing treatment at the hospitals died two days after they were admitted. Raising concerns further, three more people, including two senior citizens and one three-year-old child, died on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, the number of cases who have been infected also increased to over 100. Co-operation Minister KN Rajanna monitored the situation. Tumakuru district minister G Parameshwara, after visiting the hospital, said there is the possibility that the senior citizens died due to their inability to bear the severity of the infection.

The minister also said that a lab test was carried out to determine if the water was contaminated, adding that it revealed the water supplied from the overhead tank was “unfit for potable purpose.”

“We have already suspended the panchayat development officer (PDO) and waterman over dereliction of duty,” said the minister.

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However, Co-operation Minister KN Rajanna expressed his suspicion that potable water may have been mixed with the contaminated water while laying the pipeline. Further investigation has been ordered into the cause of the water contamination, the minister added.

When asked about the compensation for the victims, the minister said he would discuss the matter with the chief minister. The district administration has advised people to boil water completely before drinking