The report was submitted by the deputy commissioner, south-west, K. Narasimha to Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma on September 7. Concluding that the deaths were due to gastroenteritis through contaminated water, the report also indicts the DDA for the deaths. The reports says, ``Since the engineers of the DDA supplied contaminated water through private water suppliers, they shall be held responsible for these deaths''.

The strongly-worded report points out: ``The DDA knowingly did not provide basic civic amenities as the slum dwellers are of ineligible category. I (the deputy commissioner) need not mention here that the objective of any government organisation in a welfare state like ours is to provide services and goods to people''.

Talking of the response of the authorities towards the tragedy, the report says, ``The director, Health Services, is found to be insensitive towards the sensational news of these deaths on August 5. Instead of providing health coverage to these slum dwellers to prevent further deaths, she waited for specific direction from the principal secretary, Health Services, till the evening of August 6''.

``Her negligence caused two more deaths on August 5 and 6,'' the report says. ``Adequate health coverage was provided on August 7 only after receipt of a letter from the inquiry officer (deputy commissioner, south-west) on August 6,'' the report points out.