GUJRAT, Nov 2: Three persons died while at least 210 others became ill after drinking water supplied by the TMA at Mohallah Arian here in the industrial area.

The district administration declared an emergency after being informed by Edhi volunteers and DHQ hospital authorities that an epidemic had broken out in Mohallah Arian. Those hospitalized told this correspondent that their condition had started deteriorating when they drank water being supplied by the TMA.

The dead were identified as Jannat Bibi (80), Soni (10) and Sidra (5). Sources in the DHQ hospital told Dawn that they had received at least 210 residents of the affected locality with symptoms of cholera or diarrhoea. At least 45 persons had been hospitalized while the remaining were discharged after first-aid, they said.

DCO Agha Nadeem, Tehsil Nazim Mian Haroon Masood along with local health authorities reached the affected locality in the jurisdiction of Union Council No 50. According to health officials, the disease had not yet been diagnosed but its symptoms resembled those of cholera and diarrhoea.

A spokesman for the TMA said: “We have taken samples of water that would be sent to laboratory for examination.” The health staff have been asked to administer cholera vaccine to the people residing around the affected locality, a spokesman for the health department said and added, the DCO had also cancelled the weekly off-day of the health staff to deal with any emergency on Sunday.

The affected residents have urged upon the Punjab governor to order a probe into the incident and take stern action against those responsible for the tragedy.