Contaminated water at Panchshil Society at Worli Naka claims second victim. Vrushali Jayant Pawar, 26, the deceased, was into her sixth month of pregnancy.
The Panchshil Housing Society at Worli Naka lost its second resident to jaundice on Tuesday. Vrushali Jayant Pawar, 26, the deceased, was into her sixth month of pregnancy. On February 23, Kavita Aitla, 24, had died of the disease.
While many other residents continue to suffer from jaundice, society members have squarely blamed the builder for its spread. They allege that construction of the sewage line beside the water tank has led to the icterus onslaught. “Although we have been taking all precautions, there seems to be no relief. I am concerned about my three-year-old daughter,” said Jayant Pawar who lost his wife.
Built by the Lokhandwala Builders at Worli Naka, the society houses 400 families in four buildings. Residents have been falling ill for the past one-and-a-half months. Diagnosis revealed they suffered from jaundice.
According to Ganpat Tambe, secretary of the society, there is at least one patient on each floor. “After a thorough check, we found that the water is contaminated due to the drainage. We have complained to the BMC, but no action has been taken.”
However, Dr GT Ambe, executive health officer, BMC, said: “We have arranged a camp in the society and distributed chlorine tablets. But if the water connection is faulty, then what can the health department do?”
Society members say that they have written to the civic body to shift the drainage line from near the water tank. “But they only clean the tank. Immediately after cleaning, it again gets contaminated,” said society member Santosh Pawar.
When contacted, assistant municipal commissioner of G-South ward SS Gadkari said, “The BMC is taking all precautions and applying all measures, but the water connection of the society is unauthorised. We cannot cut the supply suddenly. It is the society or the builder’s job to repair the tank.”
Residents now use water from the tank for non-potable purpose. “We found worms in the tank water. We fill our utensils from BMC’s direct supply tap in the morning,” said Sandhya Kamble.
“We have taken precautions after the death of my daughter-in-law Kavita. We are using mineral water,” said Boomaiya Aitla, 58.
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