KMC finds coliform bacteria in samples

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has found coliform bacteria in 12 out of 14 samples that have been collected from various sources predominantly from Vidyasagar Colony area in South Kolkata's Baghajatin area.

"We have found no bacteria at the standpost but the water sample we have collected has confluent of jaundice. We will charge all the standposts and will collect samples round-the-clock at least for seven days and test them in our laboratory for further confirmation. We have also found confluent in packaged water samples that we have collected," Mayor Firhad Hakim said on Saturday. The Mayor believes that daily tests will help in detecting the exact source of the bacteria that has been responsible for causing jaundice in the area. Water samples from tubewells have been found to be free of coliform bacteria. There were reports of some jaundice cases from Ward 100 in Ramgarh.

Rahul Bose, a second year student of K K Das College and his elder sister Anindita Bose of C Block in Ramgarh have been affected with jaundice. Anindita's bilirubin had gone up to 8.9 and blood pressure had also fallen on May 16 when she was admitted to Baghajatin State General Hospital. She had been released two days back and still has fever. Dipanwita Ghosh who lives in the same apartment has also been diagnosed with jaundice.

Suman Chanda, a businessman living adjacent to C Block, has also been diagnosed with the water-borne disease and had returned home a few days back after receiving treatment at a private hospital. The KMC has also started collecting samples from Ramgarh area as soon as there were reports of the outbreak. Cases of around 30 people being affected with jaundice were reported from Ward 99 and Ward 92 in Baghajatin area since Thursday. Officials of the KMC Health department visited several households where there have been cases of jaundice and collected water samples.