Solapur: 5 dead after drinking polluted water

Solapur: Five people died, including a 14-year-old boy, and 77 fell ill after consuming contaminated water in Maharashtra's Solapur district. Those ill have been admitted to hospital with gastrointestinal symptoms.

All of them are slum dwellers. The residents say they have been complaining to the municipal authorities for the last two days but no action was taken.

A case of negligence by the water supply department has been registered with Solapur police station. The case has been registered under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) - culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Police are investigating if the municipal officials are responsible for supplying contaminated water. Water sample has also been sent for testing.

Two Solapur Municipal officials - one from the water department and other from health department - have been suspended.