In an incident that brought back memories of the recent water-linked deaths in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, around two dozen residents of Mhow town of the same state fell ill after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water, news agencies reported on January 23. The cases prompted an emergency response from district authorities and a late-night visit by Indore Collector Shivam Verma on Thursday.
The cases were reported from Patti Bazaar and Chandar Marg areas, where residents began complaining of vomiting and other symptoms, PTI reported.
According to officials, 22 people reported illness, with nine currently undergoing treatment in hospital and the rest receiving care at home.
Most of those affected are children, officials said. Medical examinations revealed jaundice-like symptoms among patients, raising concerns over the quality of drinking water supplied to the area.
Manish Agrawal, sanitary superintendent of the Mhow Cantonment Board, told ToI that blood tests conducted on the patients indicated jaundice, with doctors suspecting contaminated water as the likely cause. Teams from the Cantonment Board and the health department were sent to Patti Bazaar and Motimahal areas to carry out a primary survey and assess the situation on the ground.
As reports of illness emerged, the district health machinery was mobilised on the instructions of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Hasani. Health department teams have remained deployed in the affected localities since Friday morning to monitor residents and identify any new cases.
Collector Verma rushed to Mhow late on Thursday night, visiting the hospital where patients are being treated. He spoke to those admitted and their families, and later met residents in the affected neighbourhoods to understand the extent of the problem.
He directed health officials to ensure timely and proper treatment for all affected residents. He also instructed the Mhow Cantonment Board to immediately test the quality of water supplied through pipelines and to strengthen sanitation measures in the area.
“The patients are under treatment and the administration is closely monitoring the situation,” Verma told reporters late at night. He said a door-to-door survey would begin from Friday morning in the affected areas. Those showing mild symptoms would be treated at home, while serious cases would be admitted to hospital.
Verma added that no patient was currently in a critical condition and that some of those admitted were likely to be discharged by Friday.
Following his hospital visit, the collector toured several parts of Mhow where jaundice-like symptoms have been reported. He went door to door to assess conditions and speak directly with families, underscoring the administration’s effort to contain the situation and prevent further cases.
Surveillance would continue till water samples are fully tested and sanitation measures reinforced, authorities said.
In December, a large number of people fell ill and seven deaths linked to water contamination were reported in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore. While govt reports put the deaths at seven, people of the locality claimed that a total 25 people died, including a five-month-old boy.
The cases were reported from Patti Bazaar and Chandar Marg areas, where residents began complaining of vomiting and other symptoms, PTI reported.
According to officials, 22 people reported illness, with nine currently undergoing treatment in hospital and the rest receiving care at home.
Most of those affected are children, officials said. Medical examinations revealed jaundice-like symptoms among patients, raising concerns over the quality of drinking water supplied to the area.
Manish Agrawal, sanitary superintendent of the Mhow Cantonment Board, told ToI that blood tests conducted on the patients indicated jaundice, with doctors suspecting contaminated water as the likely cause. Teams from the Cantonment Board and the health department were sent to Patti Bazaar and Motimahal areas to carry out a primary survey and assess the situation on the ground.
As reports of illness emerged, the district health machinery was mobilised on the instructions of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Hasani. Health department teams have remained deployed in the affected localities since Friday morning to monitor residents and identify any new cases.
Collector Verma rushed to Mhow late on Thursday night, visiting the hospital where patients are being treated. He spoke to those admitted and their families, and later met residents in the affected neighbourhoods to understand the extent of the problem.
He directed health officials to ensure timely and proper treatment for all affected residents. He also instructed the Mhow Cantonment Board to immediately test the quality of water supplied through pipelines and to strengthen sanitation measures in the area.
“The patients are under treatment and the administration is closely monitoring the situation,” Verma told reporters late at night. He said a door-to-door survey would begin from Friday morning in the affected areas. Those showing mild symptoms would be treated at home, while serious cases would be admitted to hospital.
Verma added that no patient was currently in a critical condition and that some of those admitted were likely to be discharged by Friday.
Following his hospital visit, the collector toured several parts of Mhow where jaundice-like symptoms have been reported. He went door to door to assess conditions and speak directly with families, underscoring the administration’s effort to contain the situation and prevent further cases.
Surveillance would continue till water samples are fully tested and sanitation measures reinforced, authorities said.
In December, a large number of people fell ill and seven deaths linked to water contamination were reported in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore. While govt reports put the deaths at seven, people of the locality claimed that a total 25 people died, including a five-month-old boy.
