Warangal, Sept 23 :
At least three people died and more than 8 others were taken ill after they consumed contaminated water in Thirumalagiri in Nalgonda district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident came to light when the members of farming community belonged to Baluthanda in Kodagandla mandal in Warangal district started falling ill one after the other and made a beeline for the only Mahatma Gandhi Medical College Hospital in Warangal.
Three villagers were died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. The identities of deceased are yet to be ascertained, the doctors said. “This alarmed the health officials who in turn informed the administrative officials and started treating the patients,” a medical officer said.
“Preliminary inquiries revealed that the farm labourer consumed water in a pot which was used for mixing chemicals in Thirumalagiri in Nalgonda district. The villagers fell ill after consuming this contaminated water in Ananthareddy farm,” said the medical officer.
‘‘The toxins in the water lead to the deaths,’’ he informed and added the condition of others is improving.“Drinking water samples are being further examined,” he said. The villagers have also demanded adequate compensation for the kin of the victims.