Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Aug 7: Scores of people in Bandipora’s Ajas have fallen sick after they consumed drinking water supplied to them by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) in the area.
Though the situation is being termed under control, the officials said that the people after using the water-which contained impurities-fell sick and were running fevers.
After the trend of increased cases of fever was reported from the area and people complaining of impure drinking water being provided to them, the Health Department dispatched a team of medical experts to the area to gauge the intensity.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Bandipora, Bashir Ahmad Khan told Excelsior that for last 5-6 days the cases of fever were being reported at the local Public Health Centre (PHC) in Ajas and the Health Department took note of it and dispatched a team to monitor the situation.
“The issue is being personally monitored by the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora-so far, those who fell sick have been treated, the situation is being monitored,” he said.
While the PHE has a role in this, the CMO said that the concerned department has taken the samples of the water which is being supplied to the people in the area. The CMO maintained that the situation is not alarming at all.
As the CMO expressed his inability to divulge the exact number of people who ran a fever and were treated at the PHC, the reports reveal that around 500 patients have been registered at PHC Ajas, and out of them, 70 patients had high temperatures.
Another estimate suggests that in the last few days, at least 150 individuals from the area complained of fever and were reported to PHC, Ajas.
It is pertinent to mention here that residents of Ajas had alleged that they were being supplied with contaminated water by the PHE, regarding which they had even complained to the concerned authorities, but all in vain.
They had also complained that there have been many incidents in the past as well where the contaminated drinking water was supplied to people in other areas as well. The gravity of the situation was never taken into the account.
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