Diarrhoea Outbreak Claims Three Lives in Madhya Pradesh Villages

Three men, including a father-son duo, died of diarrhoea in two villages of Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh. Six others are affected. The area health supervisor has been suspended, and two other officials have received show-cause notices. Authorities suspect water contamination as the cause.

Three men, including a father-son duo, have died from diarrhoea in two villages of Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, according to officials on Friday.

The area health supervisor has been suspended following the outbreak, while two other officials have received show-cause notices. Tanoop Singh (62) and his son Chudamani Singh (32) died in Belsara village, while the disease also claimed the life of Ramdev Singh (65) from Karhi village on Wednesday, said Dr. K L Baghel, area medical officer.

Six others in Karhi are currently suffering from the infection, with three admitted to a hospital in the nearby Dindori district and the rest being treated at home. A team of medics, doctors, epidemiologists, and revenue officials has been dispatched to the affected villages.

Dr. Baghel mentioned that they suspect water contamination as the cause, noting that hand pumps are the only source of potable water in the two villages, which are located 2 to 3 km apart and about 70 km from the district headquarters. The Public Health Engineering Department will test the water sources.

In response to the outbreak, Umaria Collector Dharnendra Kumar Jain has suspended RP Singh, the health supervisor of the Ghulghuli sector, under Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules. Show-cause notices were also issued to Chief Health Officer Meenakshi Malv and Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) Kanchan Singh.

(With inputs from agencies.)