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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, JAN 21: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today began investigations into the sudden sweep of gastro enteritis in Kuresh Nagar, Kurla that has so far claimed two lives and affected 62 others. The Bhabha Hospital, where a majority of patients have been admitted, has sent samples of their blood and stools to Kasturba Hospital for chemical analysis.
Though it has still not been established what caused such rapid spread of the disease, a visit to Kuresh Nagar reveals that it was a disaster waiting to happen. One has to wade through overflowing gutters and days of uncleared garbage to reach the municipal dispensary, where Dr Sharad Deshmukh is seeing patients with complaints of vomiting and loose motions. He has seen around 150 patients since morning, and there is still a long queue outside. He says that a couple of patients that he saw were quite serious and have been referred to Bhabha Hospital. He is giving patients sachets of oral rehydration solution, so that the loss of fluids in thebody could be replaced. He is also instructing them to drink only boiled water. But while drinking water is widely believed to be the culprit, no efforts have been made by civic officials to detect leakages in drinking water lines. Sources said that since the pipes carrying drinking water are not charged all the time, it results in negative pressure and the dirt from outside gets sucked in. At many places water and sewage pipes have been laid side by side increasing the possibility of contamination. However, no ultrasound tests have been carried so far by the Hydraulic Department to detect leakages.
At the Bhabha Hospital, meanwhile, the two dead were today identified as Jaibunissa Amanulla and Ratnabai. Dr Asha Pendse, medical superintendent of the hospital, said Jaibunissa was already in a hypo-volumnic shock when she was brought to the hospital and she died within half an hour of admission. Ratnabai, however, appeared to be on her way to recovery when she suddenly collapsed last night and died thismorning of septecemia.
Of the total patients admitted here, there are 25 children, 25 women and 12 men. Except for two children, most of them are stable, the doctor added. When asked about the probable cause, she said they will have to wait for the chemical analysis report, but pointed out that one female patient was reported to have vomited worms.
While some patients said they had falooda last evening and then took ill, others said they had their regular meals. According to Mohammed Nafis, who was admitted this morning to the male medical ward, he had only eaten some dates last evening when he started getting loose motions. He then made some tea for himself, but the problem continued and he started feeling nauseous. When his condition continued deteriorating, he was brought to the hospital by his relatives. He complained that the drinking water in his house was smelling for the last few days.
Seven-year-old Irfan Ahmed was admitted to the paediatric ward today with complaints of loose motions.His mother, who was sitting at his bedside, said that he only had sevai with milk in the house last evening. She, however, added that he may have eaten something outside.
The doctor said that patients are being given intra-venous fluids and antibiotics, and the children were being given soft diet of rice, banana and butter milk. She added they may need to be kept in the hospital for a couple of days more.
