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Cuttack faces epidemic threat

CUTTACK: After heavy rains, the city now faces threat of diarrhoea and cholera as many residential areas are still waterlogged and garbage has been piling up for the past five days.

Intermittent rain for the last two days and fear of another depression over the Bay has thrown life out of gear for the city dwellers and the beleaguered local administration presses the panic button.

Random cases of diarrhoea have been reported from Sutahat, Kazi Bazaar and Patapola areas situated on either side of a main drain that has inundated the localities.

“At least 40 cases of simple diarrhoea have been reported from these areas till Thursday. We have deployed two medical teams to keep a watch on the situation,” said CMC health officer Niranjan Das. However, unofficial sources claimed that at least 100 cases of diarrhoea had been reported from across the city while a 72-year-old woman from the nearby village of Urali died of the disease at SCB Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.

The hospital received at least 12 cases of diarrhoea in the last two days, sources in the hospital said, ruling out an epidemic situation in the city. “Water contamination by overflowing of the main drain is believed to be the cause behind the disease,” Mr. Das said, adding that sources of potable water like tubewells were contaminated. Moreover, the drain water also entered the pipes as they remained submerged under water for several days, he added. To check the outbreak of the enteric diseases, the CMC medical teams began disinfection operation by chlorinating the sources of potable water and distributing ‘halozen’ tablets on a war-footing. “The Water Supply Department has been requested to provide drinking water in the affected areas through tankers,” the health officer said. Meanwhile, the CMC food inspection teams raided several food joints and destroyed stale and unhygienic food.

The drive to remove garbage undertaken on a war-footing by the CMC on Wednesday following an order from the High Court was badly affected on Thursday because of heavy rain. “We are, on the job despite the odds by engaging more workers and vehicles,” said CMC Commissioner R.K. Kar.

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