Public Health Dept finds leakage in water pipes Four days after the outbreak of diarrhoea that affected over 250 persons in Sector 19 here and at Abheypur village, the Public Health Department finally detected faults in water supply pipes at four places today. A health official attends to a patient suffering from diarrhoea at a dispensary in Sector 19, Panchkula, on Monday. The department found that filthy water was entering leaking water pipes, resulting in contamination of drinking water. TD Chopra, Chief Engineer, Public Health Department, Panchkula, said leakage at distribution points of the main water pipes was detected at four places. While one damaged pipe was plugged, the water supply to domestic connections was disconnected at three points, said Chopra. He, however, claimed that no major fault was detected during the door-to-door survey in Sector 19 and at Abheypur village. Meanwhile, 50 new cases of diarrhoea were reported at the Sector 19 civil dispensary today, taking the total number of such cases to 250. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Dr VK Bansal, Civil Surgeon, Panchkula, said the new patients showed symptoms of diarrhoea and were given medicines and ORS packets. A majority of the patients admitted to the dispensary were discharged after treatment, Dr Bansal said. The Civil Surgeon said pamphlets, chlorine tablets and ORS packets were distributed among the residents of the affected areas. Besides, public announcements were also made in this regard. Teams of the Health Department also educated the public about diarrhoea, its symptoms and preventive measures, he said.