Telkoi: Kidney disease has been spreading in Makapada village in the tribal-dominated Telkoi block in Keonjhar. Contaminated water is said to be the main culprit for the disease which has raised concern for the villagers as well as the health department.
In the last 10 months, six people in Sirigida village have died of kidney ailment while more and more people are affected by the disease.
Villagers alleged that water available from the only tube well in the village causes the disease.
Those who have died of kidney disease were identified as Gourahari Mohant(48), Khageswar Mohant (55), Trilochan Mohant(25), Benudhar Mohant (60), Sadhu Charan Das(55), Bansidhar Mohant (60) and Maguni Mohant(50).
Ward member Sabitri Mohant said the tube well water has iron content, which is suspected to be causing kidney disease.
As there is no healthcare facility for kidney in the nearby areas, patients are compelled to go to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment, she added.
The villagers demanded immediate step by the health department to prevent the disease. The ward member assured that a deep bore will be dug after the water sample is examined by an expert team.
A similar situation had sprung up at Biridiha village in Anandapur sub division in May, 2018. The village saw a spurt of kidney disease. The disease had claimed seven lives in six months while over 30 villagers had been affected.
A preliminary report by the health department confirmed that contaminated water was the reason for the spread of the disease.
