Ghaggar water recedes, but number of patients up in Patiala's flood-affected area

The Ghaggar level is receding but residents of the flood-hit villages are facing a fresh challenge — waterborne diseases.

According to official data, medical teams have treated 233 patients in the worst-hit villages of Jandi Mangoli and Untsar. Of them, 145 patients were attended to in Jandi Mangoli and 88 in Untsar.

The Health Department has expressed concern that the area may witness a rise in snakebite cases. A snakebite victim was given timely treatment and saved in the flood-hit area of Darwa.

As many as 226 snake bite cases have been reported since the beginning of this year —58 form August 1 to September 5. Three persons have died of snakebite in the district.

Meanwhile, the Ghaggar water level has receded to 15.6 feet. The danger level is 16 feet.

The floods damaged nearly 808 hectares of standing crops across 105 villages in Patiala district. While one death has been reported. However, there are no reports of people being displaced or reported missing. Teams of the NDRF and the Army have been deployed in vulnerable areas to respond to any emergency.

Civil Surgeon Jagpalinder Singh said the Health Department was working round the clock to provide medical relief in the flood-affected areas. “Mobile health units and medical camps have been set up in the affected villages, with all essential medicines readily available. Residents can also dial emergency helpline 104,” he said.

Dr Jagpalinder Singh added that outreach activities had begun in the flood-hit villages near Rajpura through mobile health units. Along with consultations, essential medicines were being provided to treat patients and prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. On Friday, the mobile health units were deployed in the villages of Lachru and Chamaru.

Reiterating the department’s commitment, the Civil Surgeon assured that healthcare support would reach every affected village in the district.