Sambalpur, June 26: The outbreak of diarrhoea in Burla has created panic among the residents of the town. Local residents have recently brought to the notice of the authorities the death of a man.

Though the medical team admitted that diarrhoea had broken out in Burla, they denied that the epidemic was the reason behind the death.

Dilip Behera, a resident of One-R colony in Burla was suspected to have died of diarrhoea on Friday. The local residents brought the case to the notice of the concerned authorities. A medical team led by additional district medical officer (public health) Minakshi Mohanty visited the place yesterday. Mohanty said: “We have detected few cases of diarrhoea in the area but the situation is under control. We have already started taking measures to stop the disease from spreading. We have distributed anti-diarrhoea medicines and provided treatment to a few people of the locality. We have also asked the people to use boiled water or tube well water for drinking purposes.”

Mohanty denied that Behera had died of diarrhoea. “The man had donated blood in the morning and had drunk liquor in an empty stomach. This might have been the reason behind his death,” she said.

The additional district medical officer, however, admitted that the drinking water in that area had become contaminated. “We have apprised public health department officials about the contamination in the drinking water,” she said. Burla Notified Area Council chairperson Chandrabati Naik also denied that Behera was a victim of diarrhoea. However, she admitted that a few cases of diarrhoea had come to notice. “Immediately after the receipt of information about the death, I asked the medical team to visit the place. We have distributed medicines in that locality,” she said.

“The pipes through which drinking water is supplied by the public health department have become rusty and because of this, drain water is getting mixed with drinking water. We have asked the department to replace the pipes so that the supply water does not get polluted,” said Dhirendra Debta, a local resident.

“There were a few cases of diarrhoea but the patients were treated at the Burla hospital. Everyday, few people of the town are being affected by this water contamination. The public health department should immediately think of replacing the old pipes,” he added.

“We have discussed the matter with the higher officials. We have even sent requisition for the replacement of the pipes. The estimate for the replacement of pipes has been prepared and we will start the work very soon. Though, the replacement of the pipes in the entire town cannot be done because of a budget constraint, we will try to replace them in those areas where the pipes have become rusty,” said assistant engineer of public health department, Bhagyadhara Sahu.