Jaundice spreads to eastern part of Odisha’s Cuttack city

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Feb 22:

Jaundice has spread to the eastern part of Odisha’s Cuttack city as it claimed the life of a sexagenarian woman on Saturday and another one has been afflicted with the water-borne disease.

On Saturday, a 65-year-old woman of Bhadimula Harijan Sahi in the city was admitted to a private hospital for treatment in a critical condition. Hours later, she was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here after her condition deteriorated. But, she was declared dead on arrival late yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as Suli Dei.

Another 30-year-old woman identified as Suma Bhoi, wife of Sanyasi Bhoi, of Bhadimula area is undergoing treatment for jaundice after her blood samples confirmed hepatic infection.

With jaundice spreading in the Bhadimula area, the district administration is yet to reach people to take stock in the eastern part of the city.

As per reports, the drinking water pipeline running through the Bidyadharpur Harijan school has prominent cracks in at least five places. This apart, the pipeline spreading across Dolamandap Sahi in Bidyadharpur and Baghamunda Sahi in Kesharpur run through sewerage lines pointing towards source of possible contamination of the drinking water facility.

‘‘We have apprised of the situation to the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner and Mayor, a fortnight ago. The authorities have not replaced the defective pipelines as a result of which one person has died and another has been afflicted with the infection. We would launch agitation in the event of the civic body not initiating steps in war-footing manner, local Corporator, Baideswar Panda cautioned.

The water-borne disease has left the denizens panicky as it is spreading its tentacles to other parts in and around the city with each passing day.

Report of jaundice taking over the city has been coming in as jaundice cases have been identified in almost every area of the city.

Apart from the city, jaundice has spread to Bayalis Mouja and Choudwar on the outskirts of the Millennium City.

While the state government has put the number of jaundice affected people to below 120, the unofficial figure is nearing 1000 mark.

The district administration officials are reaching out to people after jaundice cases are reported. Had the authorities taken preventive measures, the outbreak wouldn’t have taken such proportions. It’s almost going to be a repetition of Sambalpur-like situation, a city dweller said.