Yadgir: A suspected gastroenteritis outbreak in Biranur village of Shahapur taluk left 57 residents ill, with doctors linking the illness to consumption of contaminated water from an open well.The problem surfaced after a motor supplying drinking water to the Harijan ward reportedly developed a fault, forcing residents to depend on a nearby well. Villagers alleged that consuming the contaminated water led to vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain.The affected residents were treated at the Hattigudur primary health centre and other hospitals, and have since recovered. An ASHA worker, who surveyed 37 of the 140 houses in the locality, said that 57 residents had fallen ill.Taluk health officer Dr Ramesh Guttedar said water samples were collected and sent to a forensic laboratory for testing. Residents were advised against consuming water from the open well, and alternative drinking water arrangements were made.He said medicines and additional staff were deployed at the village sub-health centre and an ambulance was kept on standby, adding that there was no immediate cause for concern.The outbreak, however, has triggered allegations of administrative negligence. Villagers claimed officials visited the village only after several days despite people falling ill and blamed poor execution of Jal Jeevan Mission works for the crisis.Village leaders Mounesh Birur and Ravikumar Dandambali alleged that the health department and gram panchayat failed to respond promptly despite villagers remaining ill for four days.
