Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, December 28, 2025: Two people lost their lives and more than ten others were hospitalized after consuming allegedly contaminated drinking water in Karlambakkam Colony near Pallipattu in Tiruvallur district. The incident triggered panic among residents and led to a major road blockade as locals demanded immediate action from authorities.
The deceased were identified as Ezhumalai, 55, a construction foreman, and Sudha, 40, wife of Varadhan. Both developed severe health complications shortly after consuming drinking water supplied through local pipelines.
According to residents, the first signs of illness appeared on the night of Friday, December 26. Several people complained of vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and weakness within hours of drinking water from their household taps.
Ezhumalai reportedly began vomiting continuously late Friday night and collapsed at his home. Despite efforts to help him, he died before medical assistance could arrive. Early the next morning on Saturday, December 27, Sudha complained of similar symptoms. She was rushed to a government hospital but died on the way.
By Saturday morning, over ten residents, including women and elderly people, were admitted to government hospitals in Pallipattu and Tiruttani for treatment.
Karlambakkam Colony houses nearly 200 families and depends on water supplied through a borewell connected to an overhead tank maintained by the local panchayat. Villagers alleged that sewage contamination entered the drinking water pipeline, possibly due to damaged or poorly maintained pipes.
Several residents claimed they had raised concerns about the water quality in the past, saying it often smelled foul and appeared discolored. They said no corrective action was taken despite repeated complaints.
Angered by the deaths, residents staged a protest on Sunday morning, December 28, blocking the Pallipattu to R K Pet State Highway. Around 50 people gathered, placing stones and thorny branches across the road and bringing traffic to a halt.
The protest continued for nearly three hours, affecting commuters and local transport. Police from Pallipattu arrived at the scene and held discussions with the protestors to ease tensions and clear the road.
Health department officials, including the Block Medical Officer, visited the colony and set up a temporary medical camp to examine residents. Doctors monitored those showing symptoms and provided immediate treatment.
Officials collected water samples from the overhead tank and household pipelines. These samples were sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause of contamination. Authorities said the test results are expected within a few days.
While residents firmly believe contaminated water caused the illnesses and deaths, health officials said conclusions would be drawn only after laboratory confirmation. They noted that food-related illness could not be ruled out at this stage.
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about drinking water safety and infrastructure maintenance in rural parts of Tiruvallur. Residents continue to demand accountability, clean water supply, and strict monitoring to prevent such incidents in the future.
(Rh/ARC)