Minister TM Anbarasan speculated that heavy rains might have caused sewage to mix with drinking water due to pipe damage.
Published Dec 05, 2024 | 3:54 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 05, 2024 | 3:54 PM
Contaminated drinking water in Pallavaram leads to deaths and health issues.
Three lives have been lost so far in the Pallavaram of Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai after residents fell ill allegedly following the consumption of contaminated drinking water.
Residents who exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and severe health complications were admitted to both government and private hospitals on Wednesday, 4 December. The disaster has left the community reeling under concerns and is raising questions about the authorities’ negligence.
The tragedy unfolded in Kamarajar Nagar’s 13th Ward (Tambaram Corporation) and Ward 6 (Cantonment under Alandur constituency). Residents allege that the water they consumed was tainted with sewage, creating a public health catastrophe.
Around 20 patients are under treatment at Chromepet Government Hospital and private hospitals are tending to around 12 affected individuals.
The deceased are identified as Thiruvethi (66), Mohanarangan (42) and Varalakshmi. All bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Residents are outraged, blaming long-standing negligence by municipal authorities for the disaster.
Thiruvethi passed away on Wednesday night, Mohanraj succumbed after being discharged and returning home on the same day, and Varalakshmi’s death was reported on Thursday.
Officials, however, denied that the deaths were caused by contaminated drinking water. The Tambaram Corporation collected water samples from the area and sent them for testing. Authorities stated that the exact cause of the deaths would be confirmed following the post-mortem reports.
Family members of the victims alleged that the drinking water was contaminated with sewage, leading to the outbreak and demanded immediate action rather than bureaucratic delays.
“This is not the first time we’ve been forced to drink contaminated water. How long can we continue living like this?” questioned Dhuraimani, a resident of Pallavaram, while speaking to South First voicing his frustration.
“The Tamil Nadu government needs to step up and provide a permanent solution instead of temporary fixes like boiling and filtering water,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Minister for Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises TM Anbarasan visited the grieving families and hospitals and inspected Kamarajar Nagar.
During his press interaction, he speculated that heavy rains might have caused sewage to mix with drinking water due to pipe damage. He also suggested that food, specifically fish consumed by the victims, might have contributed to the illnesses.
The minister claimed the contamination was “limited,” and highlighted that over 200 residents in the area were unaffected.
This statement enraged residents, who dismissed it as an excuse to deflect blame. Many pointed out that murky, foul-smelling water had been flowing through municipal pipes for days, and that complaints lodged with Cantonment authorities were ignored.
This tone-deaf remark of the minister deepened public outrage, as it dismissed the suffering of the hospitalised victims and grieving families.
In a post on X, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the DMK government over the tragic death of three people and the hospitalisation of others.
“Access to clean drinking water is a basic right, and it is the government’s duty to ensure it is supplied without any contamination. The DMK government, under MK Stalin, has failed to prevent this disaster caused by negligence. My condolences to the bereaved families. I urge the government to provide appropriate compensation to the victims’ families, ensure proper treatment for the hospitalized, and take immediate steps to supply safe drinking water across Tamil Nadu,” he wrote.
தாம்பரம் மாநகராட்சி 13-வது வார்டில் கழிவுநீர் கலந்த குடிநீரை அருந்தியதில்
3 நபர்கள் உயிரிழந்துள்ளதாகவும்,
30 பேர் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் வரும் செய்தி அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.குடிநீர் என்பது மிக அடிப்படையான ஒன்று; அதனை மிகுந்த கவனத்துடன் விநியோகிக்க வேண்டியது…
— Edappadi K Palaniswami – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@EPSTamilNadu) December 5, 2024
BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai claimed that the corruption by the DMK government was causing sufferings for the people. In a post on X in Tamil, Annamalai also slammed Anbarasan for downplaying the incident.
“It is deeply shocking that 23 people have been hospitalised, and three have lost their lives due to sewage contamination in the drinking water near Pallavaram, Chennai. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families, and I wish a swift recovery to all those affected,” he wrote on X.
“When questioned by journalists about the incident, Minister TM Anbarasan arrogantly stated that if sewage had truly mixed with drinking water, more than 300 people would have been affected, not just 20. He went on to blame the people instead. If sewage has not contaminated the water, would the minister and DMK members step forward to drink the water supplied in that area?”
“Additionally, when a journalist raised the question of whether maida (flour) was being sprinkled on streets instead of bleaching powder, Minister Anbarasan responded by saying that the price of bleaching powder is only ₹10–13. However, he had no answer when asked why the corporation procured bleaching powder at ₹55.”
“The rampant corruption in every aspect of governance by this anti-people government, which operates without the slightest concern for public welfare, has led to the daily loss of innocent lives. Despite this, Chief Minister Stalin continues to boast about the ‘Dravidian Model’ government without any shame. This raises the critical question: are the ground realities truly being conveyed to the Chief Minister?” he questioned.
சென்னை பல்லாவரம் அருகே, குடிநீரில் கழிவு நீர் கலந்ததால், உடல் நலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு, 23 பேர் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதும், மூன்று உயிரிழந்திருப்பதும் மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது. உயிரிழந்தவர் குடும்பத்தினருக்கு ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். உடல் நலம்…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 5, 2024
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
