According to SSG Hospital sources, the condition of four-year-old Sangita Kodi Patel, a resident of Devgadhbaria, was stable. Dr Nazima Shaikh claimed that the oedema of her feet had decreased somewhat.

The ward where Sangita has been admitted has been declared the `dropsy ward', with Dr Shaikh and Dr Shakuntala Joshi on 12-hour shifts and 10 beds each for men and women. Dr Shaikh said all medicines for symptomatic treatment were in stock.

SSG doctors have also been directed to register dropsy cases in the emergency police record so that they may be eligible for State government assistance.

Panchmahals District Collector A Rakesh told Express Newsline that two doctors had been put on dropsy duty there as well. All patients suspected to have dropsy would, however, be referred to the SSG Hospital, he said, adding that the Godhra resident thought to be suffering from the disease had been diagnosed to have some other ailment.

Meanwhile, five samples of Krishna brand groundnut oil were collected from various parts of Panchmahals and sent for the laboratory testing. Rakesh said this was a formality since four earlier samples had been found to be adulterated. Cases would be filed against the traders concerned, he added.

So far the district administration has seized 140 15-kg tins of the Krishna brand, along with 147 kg of loose oil of the same company.

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation, meanwhile, has issued a public notice asking people to inform the authorities if they detected symptoms of dropsy.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Administration) H S Patel may be contacted on telephone number 433233, while the public analyst's office and residence phone numbers are 411433 and 646097 respectively.