Pulwama Mar 26 (KNO): Nearly 30 cases of jaundice, mostly among children, have been reported over the past few weeks in the Zarihard area of Tral in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Local residents while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the spike in cases has created panic in the area, with many families rushing their children to nearby health centres after symptoms such as eyes turning yellow, fatigue, and loss of appetite began to appear.
“We have never seen such a situation before. Most of the affected are young children, which is deeply worrying,” said a local resident, Abdul Rashid. “We fear that contaminated drinking water could be the main cause. Authorities must immediately conduct water testing and mass sampling to control the spread.”
Another resident, Shaheena Begum, said that several households in the locality rely on common water sources. “If the water is contaminated, it can affect the entire population. The government should not wait for more cases to emerge." she added.
Locals urged the administration to ensure proper chlorination of water and awareness campaigns regarding hygiene practices.
Health officials, however, said that the situation is under close monitoring and appealed to the public not to panic while strictly following preventive measures.
A health official said that around 30 suspected jaundice cases have been reported, with most patients being minors. “Our teams are actively assessing the situation. We are also examining the possible sources, including drinking water contamination,” the official said.
He added that people should consume only boiled or properly filtered water, maintain personal hygiene, and avoid outside food. “Early reporting of symptoms is crucial. We have advised locals to immediately visit nearby health facilities if any symptoms appear,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials said that necessary steps, including sample collection and field visits have been intensified to prevent further spread of the disease—(KNO)