Despite tall claims made by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla regarding the remedial measures to check the epidemic, no medical team visited the disease struck villages in Zirakpur on Sunday. This, after the number of patients suffering from water-borne diseases is on a rise after the outbreak was reported on Friday. 

On Sunday, a poor resident of village Dhakola, Shyam Singh, his daughter Manpreet and son Gurcharan were all found to be suffering from high fever. Shyam Singh told Newsline that they were expecting a medical camp as they cannot afford expensive medicines for the treatment. “We are looking forward to Monday as the government dispensary is closed today,” he added.

Mohali civil surgeon Avtar Singh, who had earlier assured the availability of medical facilities on Sunday, said a medical camp will be organised on Monday.

Supply of contaminated water is seen as the main reason for the spread of the diseases. Newsline found a number of spots in the villages where leaking sewerage and drinking water supply lines were linked. At some places, water was being supplied to residents directly after pumping out from the tubewells.

In a significant step taken to sanitise vulnerable spots, the MC has initiated the process of digging land in order to check the leakage of the main water pipe for prevention of the supply of contaminated water.

Interestingly, the garbage taken out in the process has been accumulated on the road sides (in photo), adding to the already existing number of garbage heaps in the area.