As many as 12 people, including five schoolchildren, have lost their lives over 15 days in Chayansa village of Palwal district in Haryana after health officials believed the contaminated water to be the main culprit.
Locals said that while the first three deaths occurred nearly 15 days ago, the sudden illness since then has claimed nine more lives.
According to local testimonies, each household in the village has a member suffering from fever, cough, body pain, and vomiting.
At the same time, most of the patients admitted to the hospital remain in critical condition. Teams from the health department, including officials, have begun conducting screening and collecting blood samples from tens of residents, but officials have not yet concluded the exact cause of the deaths.
Village residents believe the contaminated water could be the cause, as the village has around 5,000 people who rely on multiple sources to meet their daily water consumption requirements.
Residents have also questioned how Hepatitis B and C have been reported as the main cause of death, while the majority of the deaths have been attributed to multi-organ failure and liver infection, raising broader concerns about waterborne diseases.
Meanwhile, the local health officials said their investigation into these deaths began on February 1, with sample collections and examination of medical records. Out of 300 samples tested so far, they found only two confirmed cases of hepatitis B or C.
Over 400 people have been screened. Drinking water tests have also begun: of 107 household water samples collected, 23 failed quality checks, showing bacterial growth and inadequate chlorination in stored water.
Similar complaints have also been reported in the national capital, particularly in parts of Noida, where locals have reported flies, insects and sediment in the supplied water.
Also read: Farm debt rising in Haryana due to policy failures: Selja
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