According to the ayurveda dispensary in-charge, Dr Amita Kaul, ``We have been receiving four or five such cases every day for the last 10 days.''She added that as soon as she got to know about the disease, she informed the block medical officer, V K Mahajan, who visited the area.

Ravinder Kumar, the multi-purpose health functionary, confirmed that a survey had been done and about 24 cases found to be positive.

Kumar said the Health Department had distributed chlorine tablets among the villagers, who had been advised to drink boiled water as a precautionary measure.

Chief Medical Officer Dr M L Vaidya said about 24 cases had been detected and precautionary measures taken. He added that thesituation was under control, and said the Irrigation and Public Health Department had been asked to super chlorinate drinking water. Vaidya said people had been advised to eat less fat-based food. He ruled out the possibility of Hepatitis-B.The residents of the area, meanwhile, were critical of the functioning of the IPH Department. They said repeated requests for plugging leakages in the main supply line had fallen on deaf ears and as a result, the disease had spread.

The executive engineer, when queried about the grouse, pushed the blame on to the people. He said the main lines laid by the department were up to the mark, adding leakages in personal lines may have caused the outbreak of the disease.