NewZNew (Moga) : A man died while 18 persons were taken ill in suspected diarrhoea outbreak in the outer localities of the town, largely inhabited by Dalit communities, here today. Sources said the people got ill due to water contamination. The district administration has advised all the residents to consume boiled water. Several teams of officials are evaluating the situation. Dr Sukhpreet Singh, posted in a local government dispensary, said the disease could only be confirmed through lab tests. “The illness being reported could be due to water contamination,” he said. A local vegetable vendor, Pappu Singh (45), had died of suspected diarrhoea last night. He had been suffering from dysentery and abdominal pain for the past two days. He was referred to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, but he died on the way. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Surinder Kaur met the aggrieved family today. Apart from this, at least 18 persons, including women and children, have been hospitalised in the district. The condition of four persons was stated to be serious. More than 100 people have reported of abdominal pain over the past couple of days, said another doctor. The worst affected areas include Mohan Singh Basti, Harijan Colony, Sodhian Wala Mohalla and Indira Colony. The contamination could have been caused by ruptured sewerage.