Six cholera cases in 2024, no outbreak: Karnataka Health Dept
Bengaluru, Apr 5: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday said that six confirmed cases of cholera have been reported in the state so far this year of which five were reported in March.
Amid reports that extreme heat compounded with the water crisis has led to a scare of a cholera outbreak, the department however clarified that all these cases are "sporadic" and that there was no outbreak.
"In January, February, March and April -- there were two cases in Bengaluru Urban which was confirmed as cholera after the culture test. In the BBMP limits, there were three cases. One case in Malleshwaram was reported, but the culture report has come as negative. One case in Ramanagara district. So totally six cholera cases have been confirmed," Health & Family Welfare Department Commissioner D Randeep said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, the last outbreak in the state was in December last year, when 15 cases of cholera were reported in Bengaluru Rural district's Hoskote.
Terming reports about a 50 per cent rise in cholera cases and that such cases are being reported in hospitals everyday as "far from truth", the Commissioner said that there is no basis for it, and only "culture tests" can confirm cholera cases.
Drinking contaminated water or without boiling it and consumption of outside food may lead to diarrheal conditions, he said, adding that not all such cases can be considered as cholera.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
