Kolkata : Faecal coliform bacteria found from enteric disease affected areas

KOLKATA: The School of Tropical Medicine has categorically pointed out presence of faecal coliform bacteria in the water samples collected by Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The KMC had collected these samples three days ago from the enteric disease affected areas of Patuli, Baghajatin, Santoshpur, Mukundapur, Kasba and Garfa areas and sent the same to the STM for an examination.

On Friday, an STM report reached the headquarters in the afternoon where presence of coliform bacteria in the water samples was found in abundance. This clearly indicated that the outbreak of the disease was due to a contamination in the drinking water supply. Besides pointing out the presence of the bacteria, the STM also questioned KMC’s own testing method. “The STM has pointed out the delay in our manner of testing water samples. We collect water from different sources in the affected areas then assemble those at a place before sending those to our testing laboratory at Palta. This takes much time. The STM has made it clear that within an hour’s time the collected water samples should be placed for incubation,” conceded a KMC water supply department official. The official said that they now will follow the STM advice in collection of fresh samples from the affected zones.