5 lakh ex gratia to kin of victims

 Guntur: Civil supplies minister Prathipati Pulla Rao and social welfare minister Nakka Anand Babu announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to next to kin of those who died of diarrhoea, and Rs 2 lakh for children.

Addressing media at GGH on Wednesday, they said the government will set up a three-member committee to probe into circumstances that led to contamination of drinking water, pipeline leakages and outbreak of diarrhoea. After completion of inquiry, the ministers said action will be taken against those officials responsible for leakage of pipelines.

Stating that 98 persons treated in GGH, they said the condition of 10 persons was said to be serious and added that they will be shifted to corporate hospitals for better treatment. Due to consumption of contaminated in Guntur city, the ministers said that the so far, 5 persons were died of diarrhoea.

The ministers expressed displeasure over the GMC officials for failing to check diarrhoea in the last four days. Pulla Rao said due to negligence of officials, the government was getting bad name.  GGH superintendent Dr D S Raju Naidu explained treatment they are giving to patients. Earlier, they visited GGH and consoled the patients suffering from diarrhoea.