Bolangir grapples with jaundice outbreak

Bolangir: With more than hundred persons being affected by jaundice since the first case was reported 16 days back, the spread of the water-borne disease seems to be taking endemic proportions here.

As the situation is worsening day by day with the disease going out of control and grappling the entire town, some people today staged a demonstration in front of a public health office and reached the collectorate demanding quick action to curb the outbreak.

The contaminated water is believed to be the major reason behind the outbreak of the disease here as the pipeline, through which water is being supplied to thousands of people, is very close to the drains at a few places, sources said.

In addition, people take bath and wash clothes near the pump house located in Madhiapali village and Mahanadi water coming from Sonepur gets deposited there, the report added.

“The situation in Bolangir is horrible as the disease is spreading its tentacles to every corner of the town,” senior lawyer Promad Kumar Mishra said, blaming the government officers posted here.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have blamed the State government for its inability to take quick action in this regard and demanded that the outbreak be checked at any cost.