Water supplied in many parts of Agartala "unsafe" for human

The water supplied in many parts of city here was found to be "unsafe" for human consumption, said a test report.

The Department of Microbiology of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) conducted tests on water samples collected from Shibnagar, Shantipara and Math Chowmuhani area of the city recently.

"We decided to collect samples and go for tests as patients from the area were hospitalised in large numbers in past few days with complaints of loose motion, vomiting, Associate Professor Tapan Majumder of the Department of Microbiology, of AGMC said on Thursday.

The test results revealed that all the samples were of "very high risk" or "unsafe" for human consumption. All the samples were collected directly from public water supply pipeline, Majumder said.

 

He said "less than 10 Minimal Probability Number (MPN) of Escherichia coli bacteria is considered safe in drinking water. Our test has revealed over 100 MPN per 100 ml of water sample. This is very high risk or unsafe of human consumption."

Minister for Health and Drinking Water and Sanitation Sudip Roy Barman admitted the fact and told reporters on Thursday evening that drinking water distribution pipelines are likely to have suffered ruptured beneath surface due to which it was contaminated by sewage water.

Authorities were mobilised to identify the leakage, the minister said and assured that necessary repairs would be done as soon as possible.

He advised people to boil water from the supply pipelines before use for the time being.

The minister said 120 people from the affected areas were admitted in different hospitals with water borne diseases during last one week but none of them are serious.