Fear of cholera, jaundice outbreak in flood-hit areas

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 26

An outbreak of cholera and jaundice is expected in flood-affected areas due to contaminated water and presence of carcasses in a week, say doctors. “We are getting to know that residents in submerged villages are having complaints of vomiting and high fever,” officials said.

The doctors said if the carcasses would not be disposed of, then there are chances of outbreak of cholera and jaundice.

Thousands of people stuck in over 50 villages of Jalandhar are suffering from various diseases. Cases of skin, eye and ear infections, diarrhoea and high fever have been reported.

The deluge has taken a toll on the health of residents in the Shahkot subdivision, the worst hit in the state by the flood fury. Residents are suffering from various sickness due to contaminated water and poor sanitation.

In Mandala, Gidderpindi, Mehrajwala, Nasirpur and other villages in Lohian, most of the residents are afflicted with fungal and skin diseases, said doctors while examining patients at a relief camp.

“The psychological trauma of having been displaced and rendered homeless is causing respiratory problems and hypertension,” the doctors said. The condition of patients who are diabetic is even worse. A senior official said they had received 60 patients with increased sugar levels up to 500 mg/dl, which is a cause for concern.

One of the officials said fungal infections, multiple boils, allergy, eczema and scabies would be witnessed among residents in the days to come.

“Scabies is communicable and epidemic in nature. It could cause major problems. Hence, proper attention is needed towards it,” he said.

There are two subdivision hospitals (SDH)s in Jalandhar — Nakodar and Phillaur and only Nakodar SDH has a skin specialist while the post in Phillaur SDH is vacant. The second skin specialist is at the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

Chabbewal MLA donates one-month salary

Hoshiarpur: On the call by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh via Twitter for people to come forward to join the government and support in flood-relief measures by contributing to the Punjab CM’s Relief Fund, Chabbewal MLA Dr Raj Kumar announced to donate his one-month salary to the CM Relief Fund. He said: “When I think of the vast number of people who are trapped in flooded areas and the needy at this moment and the efforts being made by the state government to help them,” said Dr Raj. “I hope my contribution will at least be a small amount of assistance towards the noble cause of providing relief measures and rehabilitation of affected families,” he added. Dr Raj appealed to the people to come forward and support the state government in tackling this uphill task and set an example of the unity of Punjabis and brotherhood. — OC