The Andhra Pradesh administration acted firmly against negligence Wednesday, suspending Srikakulam Municipal Commissioner Kurma Rao as a diarrhea epidemic overwhelms the city. With one confirmed death and dozens battling severe symptoms in hospitals, questions swirl around water safety and response efficacy.
The suspension order, penned by Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, holds the commissioner accountable for mishandling the crisis that has seen cases pour in from various city pockets over the past week.
Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar’s briefing painted a grim picture: 76 probable cases identified, 54 receiving hospital treatment, one loss linked to comorbidities, and two on life-support ventilators under vigilant medical watch.
To pinpoint the cause, authorities sampled water from high-risk areas, forwarding them to Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam for analysis. No pollutants surfaced in preliminary Srikakulam checks, but the decisive Visakhapatnam verdict is still forthcoming.
On-the-ground measures feature health camps in hotspots and government reimbursement for private hospital bills, steps designed to bolster containment and support afflicted communities.
YSRCP leaders, spearheaded by ex-ministers Dharmana Krishna Das, Dharmana Prasad Rao, and Dr. Seediri Appala Raju, descended on the affected zones. Their interactions with families uncovered tales of distress, fueling accusations against the state machinery for allowing contaminated water to proliferate the disease.
They disputed the single-death count, asserting four lives lost and many more in treatment. Dharmana Prasad Rao flagged 61 diarrhea episodes across 20 months—including school outbreaks—as evidence of entrenched lapses. He urged Rs 25 lakh compensation per family alongside instant relief.
Dr. Raju decried dismissed early warnings from local media and efforts to minimize casualty figures. The group pushed for a top-tier inquiry, punitive actions against errant officials, and ironclad guarantees for potable water.
As lab results loom and political crossfire intensifies, Srikakulam’s residents grapple with fear and frustration. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils posed by compromised public utilities, demanding sustained vigilance and reform.