Malkangiri: With all three tubewells in the village pumping out contaminated water and seven lives lost to it, residents of Santekguda villager under Kalimela block in Malkangiri district are a panicked lot.
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The panic, however, has not made them seek medical service. Quacks and sorcerers rule the roost in this tribal-dominated village.
According to a villager, contaminated water has taken seven lives including young and old in last one month itself.
Though there are three tubewells, reddish contaminated water comes out of all three of them in this tribal village that has 52 families and a population of over 500. Amid lack of better alternatives, the villagers mostly depend upon these tubewells and some nearby ditches for their drinking water needs.
Consumptions of contaminated water, meanwhile, have proved fatal for many.
While a mini potable water project at an estimated cost of Rs 2,00,000 was constructed in 2017, it has already become defunct.
Despite the adverse health effects, being driven by superstitions, villagers here prefer to resort to sorcery when someone falls sick, instead of availing medical treatment.
PNN
