Children among 12 succumb in a fortnight in Chhainsa village in Haryana's Palwal: Is contaminated water to blame?
Haryana Palwal Village Deaths: Following the deaths of people due to drinking contaminated water in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, a similar incident has been reported from Haryana's Palwal district. The mysterious deaths of 12 people within just 15 days in Chhainsa village have created panic in the entire area. Five schoolchildren are among the deceased, causing an atmosphere of grief and anger among the villagers. The situation in the village is so dire that someone is sick in almost every other household.
According to villagers, this began when some people complained of mild fever, cough, and body aches. Initially, it was considered a normal seasonal illness, but the patients' conditions quickly deteriorated, and reports of deaths began to emerge. The deceased include teenagers as well as several elderly and young people. Ironically, caretakers, exhausted from running around private and government hospitals, are unable to save their loved ones.
Hepatitis B and C, liver infections could be cause of deaths
Following the continued deaths, health department teams have camped in the village. On Saturday, the health department screened the entire village and collected blood samples. The department's initial assessment suggests that hepatitis B and C may be responsible for four deaths, while liver infections and multiple organ failure have been cited in some cases. However, villagers are not convinced by these claims, as the exact cause of the illness remains a mystery.
Is contaminated water the cause?
In this Muslim-majority village with a population of around 5,000, questions are also being raised about water drainage and supply. Sarpanch Mohammad Islam explained that many houses in the village store water in underground ponds. For this purpose, water tankers are brought in from outside. It is feared that contaminated water or infection may be the root cause of this tragedy.
Quack doctors under scrutiny
Meanwhile, regarding the continuous deaths in Chhainsa, Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao said, "The government has launched an investigation into the entire matter. We suspect that hepatitis may have spread due to improperly administered injections. The investigation is underway from this angle. No one responsible will be spared."
The Health Minister said, "Hepatitis spreads most quickly through injections. Therefore, it is being investigated whether any quack doctor administered the wrong injection. Department teams are active and medical records in the village are being scrutinized. If negligence is found, strict action will be taken." She also appealed to the public to get treatment only from registered doctors.