Patiala, July 24 -- Bacterial contamination has been detected in the water samples collected from Changera village of Rajpura block in Patiala where a diarrhoea outbreak has been reported.

As many as 23 people had fallen ill while a 73-year-old had died of diarrhoea in the area. As per the available information, the failed water samples had E. Coli bacteria.

Three out of the nine samples collected from the area have failed the potability test, said a senior health department official privy to the development.

"All three samples, which have failed the potability test, were collected from the taps of houses of diarrhoea patients while the rest were collected from the houses of non-diarrhoea patients," the official added.

The official sa...