Srikakulam commissioner suspended over diarrhoea outbreak

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh govt on Wednesday placed Srikakulam municipal commissioner H Kurma Rao under suspension for alleged gross negligence, disobedience of instructions, and failure to prevent the gastroenteritis outbreak that affected nearly 100 people and led to one death in Srikakulam town. Water contamination, possibly caused by drainage entering the local supply, is suspected to be the primary trigger of the outbreak. Several areas of the town, including Kaki Veedhi, Dammala Veedhi, Gudi Veedhi, Rangireeju Vedhi, and Manguvari Thota, have been affected. The municipal water supply to these areas has been temporarily suspended, with potable water being provided through tankers.In an order issued on Wednesday, municipal administration and urban development department principal secretary S Suresh Kumar said that municipal corporations has previously received multiple instructions regarding proper maintenance of water supply, timely pipeline repairs, monitoring of chlorine levels, and periodic water testing. The C&DMA also reported that, during teleconferences, videoconferences, and physical meetings, municipal commissioners of urban local bodies were repeatedly instructed to ensure leak-free and uncontaminated water supply, maintain sufficient spare parts, and keep adequate stocks of chlorine, bleaching powder, alum, and other required materials. Municipal commissioners were further directed to monitor water supply and quality on a daily basis."Despite several instructions issued from time to time, the incident took place within Srikakulam municipal corporation limits, demonstrating gross negligence, lack of devotion to duty, and disobedience of instructions by Kurma Rao," the order read.Regional director of municipal administration, Visakhapatnam, V Ravindra, is kept full additional charge of the Srikakulam municipal commissioner post with immediate effect.