Water distribution from wells in IMH stopped

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, NOV. 17. Following the detection of E.coli bacteria strains in the water samples collected from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Kilpauk, distribution of water from internal wells has been stopped, and the entire pipeline network is being checked.

The samples collected from the Institute after an outbreak of cholera were sent for testing and the presence of E.coli bacteria has now been confirmed, according to health department sources. It has been proved that some of the E.coli strains could cause diahorrhea, urinal tract disorders and systemic illness.

The samples were collected from a borewell in the Institute. Following this, water distribution in the Institute has been completely cut off, and the IMH is now purchasing water from Metrowater and storing it in plastic tanks. Metrowater and PWD workers, aided by Corporation employees, are conducting checks on the pipeline network to ensure that there are no leaks or contamination.

A public health team from the Directorate of Public Health has been stationed on the campus to monitor the situation. The team will periodically check water sources, supervise cooking operations and watch out for the first signs of Cholera among the patients.

Meanwhile, even as 16 patients said to be suffering from the disease returned to the IMH, nearly 8 patients, who showed `mild symptoms', were sent to the Communicable Diseases Hospital for treatment. ``We have decided to shut down the internal water distribution in the IMH, though the number of cases has come down significantly. The threat is still there, as a few patients reported sick even today and it is better to cut off all possible sources of contamination,'' a health department official said.

Sources said that though water from the contaminated well was pumped to a number of wards, it remained inexplicable why only the inmates of wards 10, 11, 16 and 17 were affected. Three persons, patients of the IMH, who contracted cholera died here on Friday.

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