Via the Deccan Chronicle: Mayor denies cholera deaths. Excerpt:
Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy has stoutly denied cholera deaths in Chennai, saying that not a single death occurred due to cholera or ADD (Acute Diarrheal Disease) over the last nine months since he assumed office.
“True, there have been some cases but they have been treated in the hospitals. Patients have recovered and gone home. The allegations that deaths have happened are false and mischievous”, the mayor said.
He said he was prepared to “face any punishment” if the DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin could prove his charge that there had been cholera deaths in Chennai.
“He must accept responsibility if he is unable to prove it. He said people have died of cholera. What are the names, addresses? Where are the details?” the mayor asked.
Reliable sources said the mayor was livid learning that the statistics prepared by the Corporation’s health department for deaths under various categories had shown 29 cholera deaths during 2012 (up to June), whereas there was no death due to cholera during this period.
He is now probing how such a mistake had taken place in the corporation’s medical statistics and who could have ‘leaked’ the flawed figures to the media.
