District Chief Medical Officer (Panchayat) V T Javli told Express Newsline that the death took place on May 14 when the 15-year girl Ropa Tadvi and five others of the same village were rushed to Jambugam Public Health Centre. Ropa died in the wee hours of the next day. Highlighting his official measures, including distribution of chlorine tablets, Javli said water samples had also been taken and sent for lab tests Test reports were still awaited, he said.

A team of doctors led by medical officer Vaishali Parmar was visiting the village every day, he added. The village has a population of about 1500 people, almost all living in abject poverty.

A couple of gastroenteritis cases had also been reported from each of 21 villages in Chhotaudepur taluka. Announcing that he had been to Pavijetpur village as well as those under Chhotaudepur taluka, Javli said that from Monday they have started their health drive which was scheduled for May 20.