Contaminated water tragedy in Belagavi: 1 dead, 50 fall ill

A gastroenteritis outbreak in Nippani taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district has left one person dead and over 50 others ill. The incident, caused by the consumption of contaminated water, has been traced to a cracked underground pipeline that allowed sewage water to mix with the drinking water supply. The affected residents belong to the villages of Nipanal, Boragaon, and Manakapur.

Details of the outbreak

The deceased has been identified as 51-year-old Pandurang Baccharam Patil, a resident of Nipanal village. Patil initially sought treatment at a local health centre for severe vomiting and dehydration before being transferred to a private nursing home in Miraj, Maharashtra. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated due to pre-existing kidney complications, leading to his death on Wednesday night.

According to Dr. Sharanappa Gutte, Assistant District Health Officer of Chikkodi division, around 50 residents, including women, children, and elderly individuals, displayed symptoms of gastroenteritis such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Local primary health centres and temporary clinics set up by the health department provided immediate care, with most patients now reported to be in stable condition.

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The contamination reportedly stemmed from a week-old pipeline issue that villagers had brought to the attention of the local gram panchayat multiple times. However, the broken pipeline remained unrepaired, allowing drainage water to infiltrate the drinking water supply, officials confirmed.

Negligence and emergency measures

Vijay Patil, president of the Boragaon youth club, expressed frustration at the authorities’ negligence, highlighting that the entire village of around 2,000 people consumed contaminated water for a week. “Repeated complaints to the gram panchayat were ignored. This negligence has cost us a life and caused widespread illness,” he said.

In response to the crisis, Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan has directed the immediate replacement of the damaged pipeline by Nippani taluk officials. Clean drinking water is now being supplied via tankers to the affected villages, and residents have been advised to boil water before consumption.

Temporary clinics with medical staff, essential medicines, and ambulances have been established in the area. Officials assured that the situation is under close monitoring to prevent further health issues, while efforts are underway to address the underlying infrastructure problems.

This incident has highlighted the critical need for timely maintenance of public utilities to safeguard community health. The tragedy underscores the importance of proactive governance and the prioritization of safe drinking water as a fundamental public health requirement.