Jaundice alert in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh government today asked the district administration of Solan, Mandi, Nalagarh and Sirmaur to be on alert after reports of cases of jaundice have been reported from these districts.
Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare minister Kaul Singh said that Chief Medicalofficers and Deputy Commissioners of all districts have been directed to remain alert and keep constant vigil on the situation.
He asked the people to take necessary precautions and consume only boiled water.
Singh said that like in Shimla, the cause of spread of jaundice in Solan and Mandi was believed to be contamination of water at source due to mixing of sewage and leakage in Sewerage Treatment Plants(STP).

He said that after Shimla, cases of jaundice have been reported in Solan, Mandi and parts of Sirmaur districts and Nalagarh.
The minister said that besides the Irrigation and Public Health Department, the Health department would also collect the water samples and also get these tested.

Meanwhile the Special investigation Team (SIT) probing the outbreak of jaundice in Shimla continued quizzing of Pump operators for the second day today and also questioned junior Engineer(Lifting) while another Junior Engineer(lifting) was absconding, SP, Shimla DW Negi said.
The SP said that concerned officials of Irrigation and Public Health and Health departments, Pollution Control Board and Shimla Municipal Corporation, entrusted with task of maintaining and monitoring the quality of water were under scanner and more arrests were not ruled out.

Negi said that officials, who were aware that contaminated water was being supplied to the people but did not take any action to stop would be booked and their negligence or complicity would be thoroughly probed.