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| Patients with similar symptoms visit medical camps, shortage of medicines perturbs medicos | | Doctors sound epidemic alarm | | Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, Sept 18: As the flood waters are receding in flood hit Srinagar situation is taking an ugly turn as number of patients visiting the make shift medical relief camps is increasing.
Doctors attending upon the patients while talking to Early Times said: "People are approaching them with various complaints, including skin irritation, throat infection, fever and diarrhea."
They said it seems that epidemic has broken out as many people with similar symptoms are approaching them. "These are alarming signs. We don't have enough stock of medicines to treat the patients," doctors said.
They were of the opinion that stagnated water and animal carcasses floating in the marooned areas are the major source of infection. "Since the day water levels have started receding everyone is urging the government to dispose of the carcasses and get the garbage cleared," doctors said.
Sources said that hundreds of dead animals floating at Bemina farm can lead to the epidemic breaking out in the Srinagar city.
They said government has assigned the job of getting the Bemina dairy farm cleared to the Chief Executive Officer, Cable Car Operations, Tufail Mattoo.
An official said that it is "very difficult" to extricate the carcasses. "It needs an extraordinary effort to remove them. Other measures have to be explored," he said.
The dairy farm which is spread over hundreds of kanals of land opposite to Bemina Woolen Mills was managed by the central government for supplying milk to Army's Badami Bagh cantonment.
The doctors said that inundated areas, and stagnant water has become the breeding ground for the mosquitoes and deadly insects. "Areas around Bemina Dairy Farm needs to be fumigated forthwith. Another aspect which has to be looked into is getting the garbage cleared as there is too much of stink prevailing in the city," they added.
There are rumors doing round in the city that the dead animals were being thrown into Jhelum. The doctors warned that any move by the authorities to dispose of the carcasses in the water bodies could create havoc.
"Such a move will be disastrous and can give rise to deadly water borne diseases," the doctor said.
The medicos have been suggesting that the dead animals should be buried along with the decomposing agents.
With doctors sounding epidemic alarm and city being cleared at a tardy pace situation in and around Srinagar is turning dangerous. "We hope that we don't run short of medicines and other supplies. We need immediate relief and help. Epidemic has broken out and it can take a ugly turn and we may end up in a mess," the doctors said.
Free medical camps have been set up in many areas and volunteers of various organizations are managing medicines and other life saving drugs to ensure that people don't die for want of medical aid.
Absence of government on the ground has added to the woes of people. "Government has to mobilize its men and machinery by setting up medical camps as major hospitals in Srinagar are inundated. Some makeshift arrangement is must to prevent the epidemic from spreading," opined a civil society activist.
He said government should wake up before epidemic grips Kashmir. |
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