Cuttack, March 8: The sudden rise in temperature and the outbreak of jaundice have forced the district administration to take stock of situation before the summer picks up pace.

The district administration has asked the officials of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation and public health department to repair the defunct tube wells in the district by March 31.

Official sources said at present there were over 19,000 tube wells that form the basic source of water supply in the district.

Tehsildars have also been directed to report cases of death due to sunstroke immediately following which a joint inquiry by local tehsildar and medical officer would be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Official sources said instruction had already been issued to the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to initiate measures to set up proper drinking water kiosks in all the crowded places, including bus stands and railway stations.

"It has been decided that a detailed survey would be conducted and the defunct tube wells would be repaired at the earliest," said collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra.

Mishra said it had also been decided to conduct a physical verification of all the tube wells in the district.

The officials have also been instructed to repair the defunct tube wells within 24 hours of receipt of any complaints.

District administration officials said all the tube wells and source of drinking water supply would be checked to ensure that safe drinking water was provided to the residents.

Following the jaundice outbreak, the officials of the public health department have already intensified operation to detect leakages in the supply and distribution channels in the city.

So far 65 squads have checked over 15,000 distribution lines and repaired over 3,200 service connections in different parts of the city.

"The officials of SCB Medical College And Hospital and city hospital have been asked to set up special heat stroke wards for male and female patients at the earliest," Mishra said.

SCB officials said a dedicated heat stroke ward with a provision of 10 beds would be set up by March end and the number of beds would be increased after monitoring the heat wave conditions in the subsequent phases.

At least 10 heat stroke cases were reported at SCB in 2012 while seven were registered in 2011. Out of the total seven cases, five persons were tourists.