Doctors suspect jaundice outbreak in Batamaloo

Srinagar, Oct 12:  Doctors are suspecting jaundice outbreak after 50 people were taken ill in Srinagar’s Batamaloo area.

Locals blame contaminated water for the outbreak in the area.  Locals said untreated water, mixed with sewerage, was supplied to the households after an old pipeline was damaged in Syed Dawood Colony.

“We have very old water pipe in the area which has developed cracks. Recently a bulldozer damaged it completely. We have been visiting Public Health Engineering department to replace the pipeline but to no avail,” said Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Batamaloo.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Srinagar, Dr Talat Jabeen said that the blood samples of 50 people suspected of jaundice have been sent for the clinical examination.

 “There is a broken water pipe due to which sewage water has got mixed with drinking water. People have been drinking the same water. We have sent an application to the PHE department and they have initiated repairing work,” Dr Jabeen said.

Health department has also sent its team to the area and for further investigation. “We are closely monitoring the situation. We are creating awareness through the mosques. We have also distributed chlorine tablets among the people,” the CMO said.