The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Virudhunagar Collector to consider a representation made by a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who sought an adequate compensation from the State for the death of his 11-year-old daughter. The girl fell ill after drinking contaminated water in the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp in Sivakasi.The court was hearing a petition filed by T. Nathan who is residing at the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp in Sivakasi. He said the camp currently houses around 38 families. The residents are engaged in daily wage labour, painting work and other forms of unorganised employment.He said they depended on the water supply provided in the camp for drinking and domestic requirements. He alleged that a bore well meant to supply drinking water was constructed at a location between three pre-existing septic tanks. The people had raised objections.Effluents and biological waste from the septic tanks gradually percolated into and mixed with the groundwater drawn rendering the water supplied to the camp unfit for human consumption, he said.Having no other alternative source, they continued to draw and consume the contaminated water for drinking, cooking and other domestic purposes. As a result, several residents of the camp, including children, developed high fever and were admitted to the Government Hospital in Sivakasi. One among them was his daughter N. Nijaisthana, he said.He said she was shifted to the Government Hospital in Virudhunagar for further treatment. However, she died the next day. The tragic death had caused widespread outrage among the residents of the camp who staged a protest demanding accountability.He sought a direction to the authorities to test the drinking water source in the camp, conduct an inquiry and pay compensation. Justice C. Saravanan directed the Virudhunagar Collector to consider the representation made by the petitioner. Published - September 01, 2026 09:26 pm IST