Five of 15 drinking water sources in flood-hit Bidur contaminated with E. coli

Five of 15 drinking-water samples collected in Bidur Municipality, one of the areas worst hit by the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods, have been contaminated with E. coli. The municipality has chlorinated the affected sources, but disrupted water systems are forcing flood survivors to rely on whatever water they can find.

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E. coli has been found in five samples out of 15.

“E. coli has been found in five samples out of 15,” said Krishna Prasad Rijal, a senior municipal lab technician. The organism lives in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and its presence in drinking water indicates fecal contamination.

Health authorities are preparing for possible outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the flood-hit districts. Doctors warn that contaminated water can cause diarrheal infections and cholera, while increasing the risk of dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis A and E.

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We don’t have a sufficient drinking water supply.

“We don’t have a sufficient drinking water supply,” said Sarala Shrestha, the municipality’s information officer. “We have been using tankers to supply drinking water to the displaced camps.” Bidur has established 25 holding centres, where at least 2,700 displaced people are sheltering.

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Major outbreaks have not occurred yet, and we are cautious about the possible risks.

Raja Ram Bhandari, the municipality’s health coordinator, said several cases of diarrheal infection and fever had been reported, including in displaced camps. “Major outbreaks have not occurred yet, and we are cautious about the possible risks,” he said. Officials are coordinating with federal agencies and development partners, while experts urge special attention to children, older people, people with chronic diseases, and mental health needs.

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This disaster has multiple dimensions and will have multiple consequences.