Deaths from different forms of water borne diseases such as jaundice, cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea across Chhattisgarh have registered a near 50 per cent rise in the first eight months (April to November) this year 2022-23, rising to 91 from last year’s 75.

In pre-pandemic year 2019-20, 83 deaths were reported at various parts of State from different forms of water borne diseases. In spite of efforts by the State Government, Administration and Gram Panchayats, nothing has changed and still a large number of populations in State consume or use contaminated water in their daily life resulting in getting infected by water borne disease.

As per sources in Chhattisgarh Department of Health and Family Welfare, maximum deaths were reported from districts of Surguja division, but this time, districts of Raipur as well as Durg division such as Raipur, Mahasamund, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Balod have also registered deaths from water borne disease. The latest is from Bhilai where two people lost their lives from diarrhoea in the last week of November. Nearly, 50 per cent of the deaths from water borne diseases are children under the age group of 18 from both rural and urban parts of State.

It may be mentioned here that, both vector and water borne diseases are proving hazardous for health of the people and every year, thousands of people in different district suffer from any disease of water borne category such as jaundice, diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid or vector borne disease such as dengue and malaria.

Apart from rural areas, in urban areas too, a large number of people are still consuming contaminated water.

“We have organised so many awareness campaigns and activities, but still people use contaminated water. In some of the areas, groundwater has also been contaminated and in this situation, a small number of water filter plants will not help to reduce or eliminate this issue,” said Dr A K Agrawal, Senior Medical Officer and health expert of water borne diseases. Meanwhile, in some of the areas, with the efforts of the health department and several NGOs, water filter plants have been installed by the administration and succeeded in controlling water borne diseases. But there is a need to install more such plants which will help to eliminate these water borne diseases completely from State. In this regard, Dr K K Jain, senior expert of water borne diseases said that people should understand the importance of pure and hygienic water. In areas where there is fear of contamination people should consume boiled water, he added.