12 children test positive for jaundice
An epidemic-like situation has emerged in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district with scores of children having been affected by a viral infection.
Many children of Hardmeer, Ameerabad and Sangrama villages in the area complained of vomiting and abdominal pain today.
They were taken to the sub-district hospital in Tral. Officials in the hospital said many residents of the villages were admitted to the hospital and almost all of them were relieved after treatment.
“Twelve children from the villages have been found to be positive for jaundice,” said Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Block Medical Officer, Tral. He added that the outbreak was due to supply of impure water to villages.
Dr Fayaz Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), said they had taken samples from the children who tested positive for jaundice and sent those for investigation.
“We have been monitoring the situation for the last many days and have taken samples of water. I have asked the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to stop supply from a water tank that is believed to be supplying contaminated water,” he said.
He said the department, in collaboration with the PHE Department, had provided alternative water connections to them. He further said the situation was not alarming and necessary steps were being taken to control it.
Many residents of the affected villages alleged that it was negligence on the part of the PHE Department to supply impure drinking water.
“We were unaware of the kind of water being supplied to the villages,” said Shabir Ahmad of Hardmeer. He added that it was only after the intervention of the CMO that they were supplied water in tankers.
The villagers said they had come to know that the source of water from which they used to receive drinking water was impure. “The source is without cover. Villagers urinate and litter in it,” he said.
