ROURKELA: Safe drinking water has become a dream for people of several interior pockets of the coal-rich Hemgir block under Sundargarh district where fear of gastroenteritis outbreak is stalking menacingly. Amid several incidents of diarrhoea in remote villages, the Sundargarh district health administration is on its toes to arrest the spread of water-borne diseases. In the second week of June, Grisima, Jamkani, Bijahandi and Jharpalam villages under Jharpalam gram panchayat reported outbreak of gastro after people consumed contaminated water from open wells. A population of more than 15,000 in Jharpalam, Bileimunda and Gopalpur gram panchayats are under perennial threat of outbreak of gastroenteritis. So far three deaths have been reported. But without safe drinking water, most of the villagers continue to consume polluted water. Though there are tube-wells, the water pumped out is unfit for consumption as it emanates stink. Health officials advised villagers to consume boiled water but this option too is unaffordable for many as a limited firewood is kept for cooking and the rest is sold to keep their hearth burning. What has aggravated the situation further is the practice of open defecation. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bikrant Kindo said besides disinfecting water bodies and distribution of medicines, villagers are being educated on all preventive cares. Anganwadi workers too are encouraged to set an example by setting up lavatories at their homes. Sources claimed pipe-water supply is a feasible solution, but it would be expensive to connect all the scattered villages.