3 Dead, 23 Hospitalized Near Chennai After Alleged Sewage Contamination in Drinking Water

Chennai: Three residents of Pallavaram, near Chennai, tragically lost their lives, and 23 others fell ill on Thursday after reportedly consuming drinking water contaminated with sewage. The incident has sparked concerns over the safety of water supply in the region, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to launch an investigation.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian has ordered a thorough probe to determine whether the drinking water was indeed contaminated. Residents in affected areas, including Malaimedu, Mariamman Kovil Street, and Muthalamman Kovil Street, have been advised to refrain from consuming piped water until further notice.

The affected individuals have been admitted to the Chromepet Government General Hospital and a private hospital for treatment. Local residents have alleged that the water contamination, likely caused by a mix of sewage and drinking water, led to severe health complications.

In response, Tamil Nadu Minister TM Anbarasan visited the area and announced the establishment of a medical camp to assist those affected. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Twenty-three people have been hospitalized. While it is suspected that drinking water contamination is the cause, an investigation is also examining whether the health issues were due to food consumption. If the water was truly contaminated, the impact would have been more widespread.”

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) expressed shock and condemned the ruling DMK government for its failure to ensure safe drinking water for residents.

“It is the government's responsibility to supply safe drinking water. Proper checks should have been conducted to ensure there was no contamination between drinking water and sewage pipelines, especially after the recent cyclone,” EPS stated in a post on X. He further criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin’s administration for its alleged negligence and called for immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai also slammed the state government’s handling of the crisis. He questioned Minister Anbarasan's response to the incident, accusing him of downplaying the severity of the situation and blaming residents for the contamination.

The deaths and illnesses have brought the focus back on the state's infrastructure for water distribution and its vulnerability to contamination. The investigation's findings will be critical in determining the exact cause and preventing future occurrences.