Athmallik: Panic gripped the residents of Luhasingha village under this block in Angul district as at least 15 people were reported dead due to kidney ailment in the past three years while three more persons are battling the disease, reports said.
The three are under treatment at the Cuttack-based SCB. Locals say their life is in danger due to the use of contaminated water and pleaded with the administration to take immediate steps before the situation turns worse.
They also urged the state government to solve the Mahanadi issue and provide safe drinking water from the reservoir.
Comprising 1,500 inhabitants, the village is divided into five clusters. The locals depend on a few tube wells that let out water with fluoride content. This, locals say, is the reason for breakout of the kidney disease.
Before the people could get to know this, several villagers had already been affected by the disease. Some 15 inhabitants lost their lives due to the disease.
Among the affected persons now undergoing treatment are Bisikesan Sahu (60), Pabitra Sahu (54) and Gagan Bihari Sahu (57).
Meanwhile, the district administration stopped water supply from tube wells and made an alternative provision for supply of water to the village. However, the water thus supplied is also not fit for drinking and cooking purposes, villagers say.
Rural Water Supply junior engineer Umakant Behera said the bore well water now being supplied is safe for consumption. Athmallik sub-collector Subash Chandra Ray said the affected persons would be provided with Rs 3,000 as compensation as also free medicines.
PNN