Hundreds of people these days are flocking to Gandho area of Doda district from different corners of the country to take a dip in a spring which is believed to possess healing powers.
Situated about 70 km away from district headquarters, the natural spring in Gandho subdivision is considered to be best for skin disorders, joint pains, blood pressure and headache. Even patients of paralyses are also reaching there.
Mansa Mohammed, who came from Kathua, said, “I had a paralysis attack a few years back, but when we came to know about the healing powers of this spring we came here. I have started recovering and it’s my second visit.”
Punjab’s Ghulam Nabi said, “We reached here from Gurdaspur when we came to know about this spring. There are hundreds of people who have come here from different places of the country. We are hopeful it will treat our ailments.”
Hadle sarpanch Choudhary Hashim Din said, “the area where spring is situated is quite far-flung from the populated area. It never came to the notice of the people, but a few months ago when two local girls fell seriously ill, they took spring’s water and they recovered. After that people started coming here.”
“Each day 4,000-5,000 people from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kashmir, Kathua, Basoli, Jammu, Bhaderwah and many other places come to the spring,” he added.
“In fact, we have been facing problems in crowd management. So we have requested the police and district administration regarding it. They have provided some policemen to guard the spring. It’s our treasure, we want to preserve and use it properly,” he said.
A team of two doctors from a Doda hospital visited the spot on Tuesday and took water samples for testing.
“We have been ordered by Doda Deputy Commissioner Bhupinder Kumar to take samples of the water from the spot and send it to Government Medical College, Jammu, laboratory for testing. If results come positive, it would be a great relief for the people of this area.” Dr Umar said.
The spring is not only curing people of their diseases, but also helping locals generate income as small shops and dhabas have sprouted on the roadsides. Taxi owners are also earning well from the visitors who come in a huge numbers these days.
People throng ‘healing’ spring in Doda district
