37 Admitted and 2295 Screened in Three Days: Government Responds Urgently to Water Contamination Crisis in Udaipur Village

Udaipur— In the wake of a tragic water contamination incident in Popalti village under Nai Gram Panchayat area of Udaipur district, which has led to the death of four individuals, including two children, and has sickened many others, the government and local administration have mobilized significant resources to provide immediate relief and address the contamination crisis.

On Monday, Secretary-in-Charge Anandi, District Collector Arvind Poswal, and District Pramukh Mamta Kunwar visited Popalti to oversee the situation. The Secretary-in-Charge personally visited MB Hospital, where patients affected by the contaminated water are being treated.

She inquired about their well-being and interacted with both patients and their families. The hospital staff, including RNT Medical College Principal Dr. Vipin Mathur and Hospital Superintendent Dr. RL Suman, updated her on the treatment progress. Medical officers reported that all patients are improving and are no longer in danger.

Under the guidance of CMHO Dr. Shankar Bamaniya, medical teams have been deployed to Popalti, conducting door-to-door surveys and providing medical care. To date, 2295 people from 369 households have been screened.

Of these, 37 individuals have been admitted to MB Hospital, 15 received treatment on-site, and blood slides for 20 patients have been collected for further testing. Water, vomit, and stool samples have been sent for analysis.

The contaminated water source has been closed, and clean drinking water is now being distributed through tankers and camps. Public awareness campaigns are also underway to discourage the consumption of contaminated water.

Following the field visit, Secretary-in-Charge Anandi convened a meeting with officials from the Medical and Health Department, Public Health Engineering Department, and local administration at the Circuit House. During this meeting, she described the Popalti incident as unfortunate and urged officials to exercise caution in their ongoing response.

She emphasized the need for heightened vigilance regarding water quality, especially with the onset of the rainy season, and stressed the importance of public education about seasonal diseases. The Secretary-in-Charge also directed that necessary preparations be made in medical institutions to handle any potential increase in disease cases.

Zila Pramukh Mamta Kunwar also visited Popalti, where she consoled the families of the deceased and assured them of financial assistance and improvements to the village’s water infrastructure. The state government has committed to providing hand pumps or Panghats to ensure access to clean drinking water. Kunwar also took feedback from the medical teams and provided additional instructions for ongoing relief efforts.

CMHO Dr. Bamaniya reported that medical teams, including BCMO, Deputy CMHO, and District Public Health Supervisor, are continuously monitoring the affected areas. The teams are working tirelessly to ensure that the survey work continues, with Nai CHC being kept open 24 hours a day.

Under the Stop Diarrhea Program, essential medicines such as ORS powder, zinc tablets, chlorine tablets, and doxycycline are being distributed in ample quantities. The 108 and base ambulance services remain stationed at the site to provide immediate medical assistance.