With two more deaths, the toll in the alleged drinking water contamination case at Kavadigara Hatti in Chitradurga has gone up to five. As of Friday afternoon, 160 people were undergoing treatment and 12 had been discharged. Meanwhile, the Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of the deaths and issued notices to seven officials, including the Secretary, Urban Development, and the Director of Municipal Administration.
In his order on Friday, Lokayukta B.S. Patil maintained that the right to access drinking water was a fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Further, he said: “Prima facie, it indicates that there was failure or negligence on the part of the authorities concerned in providing pure and safe drinking water to residents.”
Those who died on Friday were identified as Rudrappa, 50, and Parvathamma, 75.
