Cuttack, Jan. 13: The district administration today confirm-ed of high presence of Escheri-chia coli (E. coli) coliform bacteria in drinking water samples from Matha Sahi in ward No. 8 where a hepatitis outbreak has already caused panic.

Chief district medical officer (CDMO) Gangadhar Paramguru told The Telegraph that bacteriological analysis of some water samples conducted in December and January revealed the presence of E. coli.

The presence of E. coli in water confirms recent sewage or animal or human waste contamination. So far, 65 persons have been affected by hepatitis in the past month, claimed Matha Sahi residents. However, civic officials disagreed with the figures. They claimed that the water-borne disease had affected only 29 people.

"We have found the presence of E. coli and a health camp has already been set up for diagnosis and screening of patients in the locality," said Paramguru.

The hepatitis outbreak has led to severe resentment among Matha Sahi residents as they blame poor sanitation measures on the part of Cuttack Municipal Corporation for the outbreak. <>"The main drinking water supply pipelines have not been changed for almost 30 years and we suspect it to be the prime cause for water contamination here as many people have taken connection through old supply lines in an unauthorised manner," said Jagannath Sahu, a resident of ward No. 8 of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

Local residents alleged that most of the pipelines were passing through the drainage channels and there was high chance of contamination of drinking water with sewage.

Earlier, the residents had also staged a demonstration against poor sanitation and overflowing of drainage channels here on January 4.

Drinking water is now being supplied to Matha Sahi and parts of Bidanasi and nearby localities by two major sources--- from Gorakabar side and lower police colony side.

"If there was any leakage in the main source, the entire locality as well as nearby areas would also have been affected by the waterborne disease. As jaundice cases have been restricted to one particularly locality at the tail end, we are trying our best to find the source of contamination," said Mohanty.

Mohanty further said, new pipeline connection was extended to the locality some six years back. However, efforts would be taken to detect the old connection to snap the water supply.