Patiala, July 26

Taking stern action against the laxity of staff following a diarrhoea outbreak at Patran in the district, the state government has chargesheeted erring civic body employees.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, said a chargesheet had been issued to the Executive Officer (EO), Junior Engineer (JE), and Sanitary and Chief Sanitary Inspectors of Patran.

The action followed the visit of the Health Minister, Dr Balbir Singh, to the diarrhoea-affected area at Patran. Today, the minister visited New Yadvindra Colony in Patiala to assess the situation. An elderly resident is suspected to have died of diarrhoea on Tuesday. Over 100 people have been affected in New Yadvindra Colony and surrounding areas.

Claiming that no new case had been reported, Dr Balbir Singh identified contaminated water as the source of the outbreak and said the situation had improved with the supply of clean water.