Deputy Commissioner Usha Sharma visited Tibba, the worst affected village, on Thursday and ordered an inquiry into the contamination of drinking water due to the alleged negligence of the public health department. She deputed Gurmit Singh from the district transport office to conduct the inquiry and submit the report within four days.

The deputy commissioner also ordered the closure of a tube well set up by the public health department in village Thatha, which supplied the contaminated water. Samples of the water have been sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Baldev Singh, whose minor son Jaspal has been admitted in the local private hospital, told mediapersons that Sohan Lal, a labourer of village Thatha had died of enteritis few days ago after consuming contaminated water and his death had created panic in the village.

Civil Surgeon S. K. Tiwari today confirmed the contamination of water at village Thatha and said nearly 25 persons were taken ill. Their treatment was going on in the Primary Health Centre at Tibba. He denied knowing of any death due to enteritis. Tiwari said special medical teams had been sent to affected villages for the treatment of villagers and chlorine tablets had also been distributed to people to clean the water.

The villagers told mediapersons that the drinking water pipeline passing through the fields was leaking and the water had become contaminated due to the spray of insecticides in the fields. The leakage was brought to the notice of public health officials, but they did not care, they alleged.