Karnataka: Villagers empty lake after HIV+ woman jumps into it

Residents of Morab vill, located around 30 kilometres away from Hubli, have refused to drink water from a lake after a suspected HIV-positive woman allegedly committed suicide by jumping into it a week ago.

Unable to reassure locals, authorities are w draining 36-acre lake and planning to refill it with water from Malaprabha canal.

body of woman was found on vember 29, after which word spre that water has been contaminated. Villrs refused to drink water and insisted that gram panchayat and Navalgund taluk ministration drain lake.

Authorities first told villrs that y would test water, but one relented. Left with or option, officials have w deployed 20 siphon tubes with four motors to pump out water.

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However, Dr Prabhu Birar, Chief Medical Officer, Hubli-Dharw City Municipal Corporation told ANI, "After patient with suspected HIV committed suicide, people of vill have demanded to remove water from lake. This is totally unscientific as HIV doesn't spre through water."

Morab Lake is biggest in Navalgund taluk in rth Karnataka and is only source of drinking water. Villrs w trek about 3 kilometres to Malaprabha canal to fetch water.

Gram panchayat member Laxman Patil said, "We still have to drain 60 per cent of lake and need at least five days to empty it. re is ar problem, taluk ministration wants us to finish task by December 6 as Malaprabha right canal will be closed after December 8, and we have to fill lake. We at least need a week to empty and fill lake." 

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