Jalandhar, July 15 (IANS) A 12-year-old girl died and over 83 people, including many children, were taken ill in a village in this Punjab district Thursday after they drank contaminated water, said health officials.

According to medical officials, the victims were residents of Shamshahabad village near Nurmahal town. They were admitted at hospitals in Jalandhar, Nurmahal and Nakodar. The girl died on way to hospital.

‘A total of 83 people of 25 different families had come to us with complaints of dizziness and stomach pain. They had fallen ill after drinking contaminated water and were admitted at civil hospitals in Jalandhar, Nurmahal and Nakodar,’ medical officer Ravinder Verma told IANS.

‘So far 45 patients have been discharged after treatment. Special teams have been constituted to deal with this matter and to prevent further spread of the infection.’

The Red Cross Society has announced an aid of Rs.10,000 for the family of the dead girl.

Jalandhar is around 150 km away from Chandigarh.