Anantnag, Sept 21: Several jaundice cases have been reported in Ada Dehruna village of Anantnag district, primarily affecting children who are said to be in stable condition, while others are undergoing testing, according to officials.
M.Y. Zagoo, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag, said that the situation is not an outbreak, with only a few cases reported, all of whom are recovering and in stable condition. He said that jaundice is a waterborne, not communicable, disease.
“There is no outbreak, just three cases, all in the recovery phase and stable. Jaundice is a waterborne disease, not communicable. Health check-ups have been conducted, and health education provided to villagers,” CMO said.
He urged residents to drink properly boiled water and maintain good hygiene practices, including regular hand washing.
Bashir Ahmad, a local resident, told Rising Kashmir that nearly 13 individuals are suspected of having jaundice. The village, home to almost 300 families, relies on water sourced from downstream of Kokernag, but Ahmad suspects there may be a defect in the supply, leading to the spread of the illness, particularly among children.
Yasir Ahmad, another local resident, said that the primary reason for the jaundice cases in the village is the unsafe water supply. He said that around 13 children were affected by the disease, initially taken to the Primary Health Center (PHC) in Hakura, located just a kilometer away. Some of the children were later shifted to a hospital in Anantnag, which is 11 kilometers from the village.
“Some of the villages adjacent to ours are being supplied water which comes directly from Kokernag; however supply to our village comes from Danyeth, just downstream of the Kokernag spring, and it lacks quality and purity,” he alleged.
Irshad Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Jal Shakti Department, said that the water supply to Ada Dehruna village comes from the same scheme that serves over 30 other villages.
He said that the village receives a near-continuous 24/7 supply, which is only distributed after proper chlorination. He further said that the water samples have been taken and the results are awaited.
“The village has a proper water supply system and the allegations of providing any unsafe water are baseless,” he said.
