Chennai: The Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai ordered Chief Engineer, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB) to conduct a thorough inquiry into the death of three persons who reportedly died due to the consumption of contaminated water in Raichur. The three deaths were reported between May 29 and June 4. Moreover, 70 other persons have also fallen ill over the span of a week.
According to a report on the New Indian Express, the deceased were identified as a hotelier Abdul Gafar, autorickshaw driver Mohammed Noor and homemaker Mallamma.
After the deaths of the three people came to light, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Monday announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of all the three persons who died due to the contaminated water consumption.
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Addressing reporters, Bommai said, "The state government has taken the case seriously. The KWSSB Chief Engineer has been ordered to conduct a thorough inquiry into the unfortunate incident and submit a report."
"The Deputy Commissioner of Raichur has been instructed to test the drinking water samples in every ward of Raichur," said Bommai, as per a report on IANS.
A police inquiry would also be conducted to ascertain the cause of the lapses, said CM Bommai.
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In Raichur, the City Municipal Council said that most cases have been reported from Wards 4, 7 and 32. The complaints were also received from areas that received water supply from Rampur plant.
Hence, the officials suspect that the water supplied from Rampur reservoir through a pipe to 35 wards may have been contaminated with sewage.
(With IANS inputs)