Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 2: The local administration sealed five springs after gastroenteritis and diarrhea claimed two lives and rendered dozens of others sick in Rajouri district over the past more than one week.
Official sources said that the springs located in Dhar Sakri village of Kotranka Sub-Division were sealed as a precautionary measure after two of these tested positive for E-Coli, a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the gut, urinary tract and other parts of the body.
Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Department Rajouri, Sudesh Kumar Bhagat has said that five natural water sources (Springs/ Bowlis) at affected village Dhar Sakri were sealed after their water was found unfit for human consumption. He claimed that two water tankers have been deployed in the area to provide clean and safe drinking water to the villagers.
Meanwhile, Medical Suptd of GMC Rajouri, Dr Shamim Choudhary has said that 49 cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea were reported from Dhar Sakri and one case from nearby Tralla village in the past one week. He said out of the total, 37 have been discharged while seven are still undergoing treatment at GMC Rajouri.
Two cases– a 75-year-old woman with comorbidities from Sakri and a 40-year-old woman suffering from acute dehydration and multi-organ failure from Tralla – -breathed their last, another Health official said.
In light of the reported cases of gastroenteritis, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri visited the affected village and mobilised medical and other teams, including water testing laboratory staff and collected samples from natural springs (Bowlis) and one tap connection, he said.
Upon testing, E-Coli contamination was found in two springs, while the tap water was declared safe for consumption, the official said, adding a total of five springs were sealed and are being treated.
As a precautionary measures, the district administration has issued a public health advisory urging residents to avoid using untreated spring water and to consume only safe, treated water.
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