An indigenous model of solar water purifier designed by a Gorakhpur doctor will be adopted across the country for providing safe drinking water.

Vice-Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Shashidhar Reddy, during his visit to Gorkhpur on Tuesday, announced adoption of the model.

Reddy was asked by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to visit the poorvanchal region of the state and he visited Gorakhpur.

Rahul will visit Kushinagar during his five-day tour of the state.

Reddy said during his two-day visit to the area, he had checked the solar water purifier made by local pediatrician Dr RN Singh.

The solar water purifier takes six hours to purify water using solar energy. It is being effectively used in Holiya village of Kushinagar district.

With the availability of clean water, the Holiya village has not reported any encephalitis death this season. On the contrary, the remaining parts of the region have reported 545 encephalitis deaths till now," he said.

Reddy showed keen interest in the model and checked its mechanism.

"It has two solar panels which heat up water using solar energy and purifies it. The running cost is zero," said Dr Singh.

Finding the model useful, Reddy has taken a solar water purifier with him to Delhi. He will try to modify it further and then submit it to the Health ministry.

"We will see that it is used across the country to purify water. The gadget does not require electricity, which is scarce in most villages of the country. It is effective and has been tested in one village of the region," Reddy said.

The NDMA organised training programme for ASHA health workers in the BRD Medical College at Gorakhpur. The trainees were taught about basic measures to check encephalitis. Stress was laid on use of pure and clean water.