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13 die as jaundice spreads in Lucknow

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

At least 13 persons have succumbed to jaundice in Lucknow, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's electoral constituency.

Spread through water, the disease is threatening to turn into an epidemic. Official reports say over 200 patients have been admitted to various hospitals in the city.

Of the 13, five died in city hospitals, while at least eight deaths were reported from the suburbs.

Uttar Pradesh Health Secretary Lov Verma said the situation was being dealt with on a war footing: "We hope to tide over the crisis by ensuring well-chlorinated water, for which special arrangements are being made."

At a meeting convened by Health Minister Ramapati Shastri to take stock of the situation, a special sanction of Rs 5 million was announced to ensure adequate supply of chlorine tablets to be distributed among the people.

What has left the health authorities stunned is that even the water samples taken from taps at the residences of the chief minister and mayor tested negative for chlorine. "We have taken a serious view of this," said Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon, "We have created a special cell to monitor complaints of contaminated drinking water."

The authorities, in addition, have asked the people to use boiled water and raise the standards of cleanness and sanitation.

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