Monsoon trouble: disease threat looms large

MANGALORE: With rain pouring cats anddogs in the city, and low- lying areas getting inundated, outbreak of epidemicslike cholera is imminent, thanks to the ill-maintained underground drainagesystem and choked storm drains in many parts of the city.While thepublic are left in the lurch, the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC)officials aremute spectators to the whole episode.With low lying areas likeKudroli, Bangrakulur, Kottara Chowki among other places being vulnerable tosevere water-logging, there is every chance of sewage water mixing with potablewater. The situation is pathetic and there are chances of various diseasesshowing their ugly faces, said consulting surgeon and district commandant ofHome Guards, B. Shiva Prasad Rai.Though no case of cholera has beenreported in the city so far, some hospitals confirmed some cases with similarsymptoms have showed up. Admitting that there were places where sewage and rainwater clogged, corporation health officials claimed they were monitoring thesituation.Doctors say repercussions may not be immediate. Complaintsof gastroenteritis, dehydration, severe stomach ache among other symptoms mayshow up.MCC mayor Shashidhar Hegde said efforts were on to evacuatepeople whose homes have been water-logged, to safer places. Vigil is beingmaintained on the health condition of residents, he added.However,he would not buy the complaint that the response to the emergency telephonenumber (105) was not satisfactory. Hegde said, two telephone lines may beintroduced from Wednesday.While rain continued to lash the city forthe fifth day on Tuesday, little can be expected from the corporation, as thecity is not prepared for the monsoon.