Tension gripped Karlambakkam Colony near Pallipattu in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district on Saturday following the tragic deaths of two residents and the hospitalisation of more than ten others. The villagers suspect contaminated drinking water supplied to the area is to blame for the sudden outbreak of severe illness.
Outbreak of Illness Sparks Panic
The colony, which is home to over 200 families, receives its drinking water via pipelines connected to a borewell and an overhead tank maintained by the local panchayat. According to residents, several people began falling ill almost simultaneously, complaining of acute stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
The crisis escalated with two fatalities. Ezhumalai, a 55-year-old construction foreman, died on Friday night after suffering from severe vomiting and loose motions. In a tragic turn the next morning, Sudha, 40, the wife of Varadhan, also collapsed with similar symptoms and died while being rushed to a hospital.
Highway Blockade and Intense Protests
Angered by what they perceive as official negligence leading to the deaths, over 50 furious residents staged a sit-in protest on the busy Pallipattu–R K Pet State Highway around 9 am. They placed stones and thorny bushes on the road, blocking traffic for nearly three hours and causing significant disruption.
Police from Pallipattu station were quickly deployed to the scene. They engaged in negotiations with the protesters in an attempt to restore normalcy. Simultaneously, the Block Medical Officer and a medical team rushed to the village and set up a temporary camp to examine residents and provide necessary treatment.
Confusion Over Death and Official Response
The situation grew more tense due to an incident involving Sudha's body. After relatives claimed they saw signs of movement, her body, which was kept at home for funeral rites, was taken to the Athimancheri Pettai Primary Health Centre. Doctors confirmed she had passed away. Villagers, alleging an attempt by authorities to mislead them, initially refused to accept the body, further intensifying the protest.
While police and revenue officials continue efforts to pacify the community, health officials are preparing to collect water samples to investigate the source of contamination. The incident has caused widespread alarm across the Pallipattu region.
However, Dr. A. Somasundaram, Director of Public Health for Tamil Nadu, offered a different preliminary perspective. He stated that the two deceased were a 70-year-old man with pre-existing liver disease and a 35-year-old woman who had suffered food poisoning after attending a feast. He clarified they were admitted to hospitals in Tiruttani and Pallipattu respectively. Samples of the food and water they consumed have been sent for laboratory analysis, with results expected in a few days. He emphasised that a direct link to water contamination in Tiruvallur cannot be confirmed until the reports are received.
