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SRIKAKULAM – A massive diarrhea outbreak, suspected to be linked to sewage contamination in municipal pipelines, has hit Srikakulam town. The crisis, which peaked this week, has resulted in at least one confirmed death and left over 70 residents hospitalized.
The Outbreak Timeline
While the situation escalated rapidly in late February, investigators have noted a “slow-burn” start to the crisis:
- January 22, 2026: Residents in a single colony first reported mild symptoms. Local health officials conducted initial surveillance and sanitation drives, but the root cause remained undetected.
- February 23, 2026 (Monday): The outbreak reached a critical mass. Within 24 hours, 15 to 19 acute cases were reported, alerting district authorities to a major public health event.
- February 24, 2026 (Tuesday): The number of patients surged to 76. The first fatality, identified as 50-year-old Mandala Suresh from Dammala Veedi, was confirmed as he succumbed to complications while undergoing treatment.
- February 25, 2026 (Wednesday): Hospitalization rates stabilized at 70–76 people, though many remain in serious condition. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conducted a high-level review of the district’s response.
Root Cause: Infrastructure Failure
Preliminary findings suggest the outbreak was triggered by water contamination. Recent road repair and expansion works reportedly damaged underground municipal pipelines. This allowed raw drainage water to leak into the drinking water system, which was then delivered to households in densely populated areas including Dammala Veedi, Kaki Veedhi, Gudi Veedhi, and Manguvari Thota.
Emergency Response Measures
- Government Compensation: The state has announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakhs for the family of the deceased.
- Water Supply: Piped water remains suspended in all affected wards. Safe drinking water is being supplied exclusively via municipal tankers.
- Medical Intervention: 50 medical teams are conducting door-to-door screenings. Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) are now operating 24/7.
- Helpline: A special control room has been established at the municipal office.
Urgent Safety Advisory
Authorities urge all Srikakulam residents to:
- Stop using municipal tap water for drinking or cooking immediately.
- Discard any water stored in tanks or containers over the last 72 hours.
- Boil water vigorously for at least one minute before use, or rely on provided tanker supplies.
- Report symptoms (vomiting, watery diarrhea, or dehydration) to the nearest health camp or Government General Hospital (GGH) without delay.
