Post News Network
Cuttack, Feb 7: Residents are in a state of panic after 22 persons have been confirmed to be affected by jaundice here in the silver city.
This comes on the heels of the first swine flu death reported from the SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Locals say unhygienic drinking water is primarily responsible for the alarming spread of the disease. “It is a matter of shame that the historic city of Cuttack is now known for deadly diseases. The civic authorities are to blame for the present state of affairs,” said Dalagobinda Sarangi, a resident of Link Road. Anil Mohanty, another resident of Link Road, said unclean drinking water and filthy, improperly maintained water supply pipes has led to such a situation. “As residents of Cuttack, we can only hope that the Cuttack Municipal Corporation acts fast to contain the spread of the disease,” Mohanty said.
Mihir Swain, a resident of Jobra said that in his area, pipes are not being maintained properly despite several appeals to the concerned civic body officials and even to the district administration. “It seems the officials are least bothered about maintaining cleanliness. They talk big but do little,” said Swain.
Meanwhile, CMC health officer PK Pradhan said the civic body has been conducting awareness drives in localities and asking people to boil water before drinking. He added officials of Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) have been asked to repair the faulty water supply pipelines on a priority basis.
