Puducherry:
Two people died and 43 admitted to the hospital with complain of nausea and diarrhoea after they allegedly drank contaminated water, officials said.
The deceased include a 70-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, officials said.
The 45 villagers from various housing colonies in Kombakkam were admitted on Sunday after they allegedly drank water supplied through pipelines.
Authorities suspect that sewage water had mixed with the rusted pipeline carrying drinking water from the local overhead tank to the houses.
Public health wing of the PWD has suspended water supply through pipelines and launched emergency measures to provide water through alternative arrangements. Samples of water were also being tested to ascertain its quality, official sources said.
Opposition Congress legislator and former Local Administration Minister A Namassivayam today staged a road-roko along with party workers on Puducherry-Kombakkam road alleging that the administration had failed to ensure proper steps to provide hygienic water to the villagers.
Officials of the Revenue and Health department held talks with the protesters.
A team of doctors and para medical staff of Puducherry Health department held a special camp at Kombakkam and checked the health condition of the residents.