Move to ban ‘kulukki sarbath’

KOCHI: District health officials are planning to recommend banning the sale of ‘kulukki sarbath’ to collector M G Rajamanickam after 29 persons — who had gone on Manjali pilgrimage on foot last month — were diagnosed with typhoid in the district, reportedly after they drank it. A report in this regard will be submitted to the district collector.
Dr Haseena Muhammed, Ernakulam DMO, said, “We suspect they must have taken ‘kulukki sarbath’, along with watermelon juice and curd, sold by street vendors.The drink is prepared in unhygienic conditions.”
The district panchayat had banned the sale of kulukki after it was found that vendors were using poor quality of ice and chemicals to colour the drink. The district medical officer had recently alerted people to keep vigil against typhoid and jaundice due to rising heat.
Meanwhile, 20 squads of health wing in the district conducted raids at Kalamassery, Cheranelloor and Kakkanad. They shut down 15 shops engaged in this business. They also seized seven tanker lorries used for carrying both drinking water and water for building construction purpose. The seized samples of drinks were sent for tests to the laboratory.