Amid rising concerns over the alleged spread of leptospirosis reportedly due to contaminated water, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, along with senior officials from the Health Department, visited the affected Hazara Singh Wala village and took stock of the situation.He interacted with villagers to understand their grievances and assess the ground situation arising out of the disease outbreak. The minister was accompanied by MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya; Director, Health Services, Dr Hitender Kaur; ADC (D) Krishan Pal; and SDM Abhishek Sharma besides other officials.The minister convened a meeting with officials from various departments to review the treatment being provided to affected residents and the availability of essential services. He issued necessary directions to ensure cleanliness in the village and stressed coordinated efforts to tackle the situation effectively.During the meeting, he directed the officials to ensure regular medical camps, continuous health check-ups and uninterrupted supply of clean drinking water in the village. He also sought detailed information from health officials regarding the condition of affected patients and the measures being taken to contain the spread of the disease, while issuing further instructions to strengthen the response mechanism.Dr Balbir Singh assured the villagers that the state government and district administration stood firmly with them in this difficult time and that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring proper treatment. He said treatment for patients would be provided completely free of cost and also directed officials to address other issues raised by villagers on priority.He also appealed to villagers to maintain strict hygiene and avoid dumping waste or cow dung in open. He urged them to take precautions while handling contaminated material. He said treatment of affected animals was being carried out simultaneously. He said a medical camp was already operational in the village and urged residents to avail the government’s health scheme by getting their free treatment cards made, which cover expenses up to Rs 10 lakh. Officials were directed to ensure that no eligible resident was left out, while villagers were advised to take special care of children and the elderly and seek immediate medical attention in case of any symptoms.On February 21, Shailza (12) from Hazara Singh Wala died reportedly due to jaundice followed by Arshdeep Singh (14) who died on March 27. Several other villages who also reported sickness have been undergoing treatment in the Civil hospital. While the bereaved family and villagers blamed contaminated drinking water for the deaths, the Health Department refrained from confirming jaundice as the cause, attributing the illness instead to factors like consumption of fast food and personal negligence.Later, the disease spread its tentacle among cattlestock and others animals following which a team of more than 200 people from the Animal Husbandry Department took samples of around 800 livestock and sent for laboratory testing. On April 1, a special team from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana, also visited the village and had taken samples. Meanwhile, the Health Department has been actively conducting medical camps and has enhanced surveillance in the village.