The narrow alleys of Vaddera Basti in Madhapur, an uptown locality in Hyderabad, have one question: What is the reason for the death of two persons, kidney disease in at least two who are undergoing dialysis, and sickness among more than 50 people. And all this happened in a short span of one to three days, starting from Thursday (April 7) night.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) officials have ruled out water contamination and said the sickness was not caused by the water. “Then what is the reason for the sickness among so many people of our basti?,” questioned Durgesh, one of the residents. His six-month-old daughter is among the over 60 people who fell sick. The same question was heard from other residents who were sitting beside their homes on Tuesday evening.

Another person said that food contamination cannot be the reason too, since so many families who did not share food have fallen ill around the same time.

Two persons from a family have developed kidney disease. K Bugappa (48) and K Mogulappa (33) are undergoing dialysis at a corporate hospital in Jubilee Hills. Their family member said that both of them did not have history of kidney disease. They used to collect drinking water from others in their bylane.

Madhapur corporator Jagadeshwar Goud said that creatinine levels shot up in four people who are undergoing treatment. The reason for the two deaths, for the severe complications, and the sickness needs to be probed to avoid further tragedies there, and in other localities of the city.

At least one more infant boy (11-month-old) who has suffered from vomiting and diarrhea was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday. The residents are not inclined to believe that water contamination is not the reason.

Though HMWSSB officials have ruled out water contamination, new pipelines are being laid in the locality. Roads in the basti were dug up, and new pipes were placed by the side of a lane. Mr Jagadeeshwar said that they were waiting for some more test results. “As a preventive measure, new pipelines are being laid, which will last for about 100 years,” he said, after speaking to the basti residents on Tuesday evening.