``We first heard of the epidemic when three patients from the same hamlet were admitted at Aditi Hospital, a private nursing home here, on Tuesday evening,'' said Dr Sunil Sawant, Deputy Medical Officer of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The victims complained of acute abdominal pain, nausea and diarrohea. Said Laxmi Vansa Bhorge, the first to report sick and be admitted to the Thane Civil hospital: ``I vomited twice, felt very weak and drained and fell unconscious.''

By July 8, the numbers seriously afflicted shot up to 35, including six children, all of whom are being treated at Thane Hospital. ``Some may bedischarged by Saturday,'' said Sawant. The rest are being treated at an emergency ward set up by the TMC in a municipal school in Kokanipada. The husband of the victim, Chandu Sona Bhusare (25), alleged that his wife could have been saved had she received timely treatment.

``I was asked to buy some medicines for her which I did, but they went unused even as she died before my eyes,'' said Bhusare, who married just last year. Stated Sawant: ``I don't want to comment on this until the post mortem report confirms if her was a death due to gastro-enteritis or pregnancy-related complications.''

Fingers are being pointed at an old well (picture on page 5) in the hamlet which the tribals used for water. ``Almost all those who are down with the illness have been using water from this well for drinking,'' pointed out Sawant. He further stated, ``We have sent water samples from the well and from four hand pumps installed by the TMC for testing to detect which of the water sources are contaminated.''

Residents,however, say they have been drinking water from the well for generations. ``How is it that we are affected only now?'' questioned Ravinath Mahale. Medical officials said the villagers use the hillside above the well for defecating, which could possibly be contaminating the water. The outreach of medical services has been hampered by poor infrastructure.

``Getting ambulances to the spot was tought, as there are no approach roads'' stated Dr Sawant. In fact, the tribals pointed out that hand pumps and a primary school apart, by and large, the TMC had been niggardly in extending civic facilities to the area.

However, TMC commissioner T Chandrashekhar said the tribals were, in fact, `encroachers' who had settled on land belonging to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. ``The tribals have repeatedly got notices from forest department officials asking to move out as the area is park land, but they have failed to do so,'' he further stated.

Laws relating to national parks and sanctuaries also tied the ThaneMunicipal Corporation's hands in providing infrastructural facilities, added Chandrashekhar. ``We have identified an alternative site for relocating them and are trying to convince them to leave,'' he added. Local Member of the Legislative Assembly Ganesh Naik and Member of the Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare also visited the area.