Express News Service By

MACHILIPATNAM: Several people in Kotha Mazera village of Challapalli mandal have been suffering from viral fevers for the last 20 days and the number is increasing day by day.

On Sunday, when a Vijayawada-based private hospital conducted a free medical camp, there was a huge turnout of people complaining about fevers. Twentythree of them were diagnosed with viral fever at the medical camp and were given medicine.

After allegations that the health department had not taken any measures though 150 people were found suffering from viral fevers, DMHO Nagamalleswari along with her staff rushed to the village. In the medical tests conducted on the villagers, 30 were diagnosed with viral fevers. All of them were shifted to the medical camp organised at government high school.

DMHO said consuming water supplied from the overhead tank made the villagers ill and led to viral fevers.

The tank had not been cleaned for some time as the steps leading to the top were broken. With no alternative source for drinking water, the villagers were forced to consume water from the tank.