"An epidemic is surely waiting to happen in the areas and we have been doing whatever we can. But the crux of the problem lies in the unsanitary conditions due to the overflowing and choked sewerage pipes which have inundated the streets and the small tenements called vehras," Dr Dhir said, while confirming the two deaths in the area so far.
It has been learnt that the area does not have proper sewerage facility as the sewerage pipes of 8-inch cross-sectional have been choked for months now. "I have never seen the sewerage pipes working properly as domestic waste is always spilling on to the streets. Rains only add to the problem," said an angry Vakeel Singh of Prem Nagar.
Dharamjit Singh Garch, councillor of Ward 14 under which the two affected areas fall, agreed that the sewerage was a major problem in the areas and said that he was doing the needful to redress it.
"We have sent for the machine to clean the sewerage pipes and the work will be undertaken tomorrow," he replied to a question.
Who's responsible?
* Unconfirmed reports have put the number of the dead at five in the areas of Prem Nagar and Ishwar Colony of Dhandari Khurd so far. The area residents corroborated the number saying that five area residents, including three children, have died of the disease so far in the last few days.
* The two reported deaths so far include a pregnant woman and three year son of a migrant labourer residing in vehras of Prem Nagar.
* As many as 111 patients were checked, including 70 with the suspected disease, in the camp that is being organised by the health department for the migrant workers and the families residing in the vehras at the affect areas of Prem Nagar and Ishwar Nagar. Two serious patients were referred to the civil hospital, Sahnewal.
* They also complained the municipal corporation had failed to address the main problem of overflowing sewerage water into the streets for the past couple of days.
