The confirmation of E coli in the BMC analysis of water and stool samples from Qureshi Nagar has proved that the residents were drinking water mixed with human faeces. This was possible mainly due to the haphazard and indiscriminate laying of drinking water pipes that occasionally run through gutter water in the area.

Talking to Express Newsline, the medical superintendent of Kurla Bhabha Hospital, Dr A S Pendse, today said: ``The stool tests of eight patients have shown the presence of E coli which only indicates that the drinking water was contaminated.'' Dr Pendse added that 13 more locals showing signs of gastroenteritis were admitted to the hospital today, though she claimed that the disease was under control now and that many patients had been discharged with a strict warning that they should drink onlyboiled water.

Additional Executive Health Officer Dr R M Kathuria confirmed that water samples from Kurla that were sent for chemical analysis on January 21 and 22 had shown contamination. ``Though I don't have the full details, BMC collected eight water samples on January 21 and ten samples on January 22. Of these, two samples from each of the sets have shown contamination, mainly from the Qureshi Nagar zone,'' he said. Kathuria added that the reports of biological testing of the samples would be available on Monday.

A senior BMC official stated that a detailed enquiry ought to be carried out how the water works department could allow the indiscriminate allocation of supply lines. ``The water lines in Kurla are so disorganised, that it is a wonder how the people survived so far. The engineers at both the ward level and at the HQ (headquarters) should have never allowed the lines to run through open gutters and sewers,'' he said.

The water and stool analysis have now laid to rest the earlier theory thatthe gastro deaths could have been caused due to food poisoning. At a press conference held on Friday, the chairperson of the BMC health committee, Sardar Tara Singh, had hinted at the possibility that the Muslim residents of Qureshi Nagar may have eaten contaminated food during the Id festivities.