Residents of a hamlet under Soro NAC in Balasore district have appealed to be relocated as around 30 people of the area have died in last eight years while five are struggling for life.
While health officials feigned ignorance about the deaths, the locals said the people had died of some fatal disease.
Sources said with no previous family history of any chronic disease, the residents of Uttareswar have fallen prey to diseases like cancer, lever cirrhosis and ulcer. The deceased include couples and siblings.
Besides those diseases, many villagers suffer from gastro-intestinal disease as all water sources have been polluted. Even as the cause of the spread of the diseases remains a mystery, activists feel that it may be due to consumption of excess country made liquor.
The hamlet having a population of nearly 250 is located near a big pond called Jena Pokhari which is full of garbage and all dirt and filth from nearby lavatories are released into it. The hamlet has only one pipe-water tap. People live in highly unhygienic condition and hence are prone to diseases.
The villagers alleged that though they have appealed to the health authorities to find out a remedy to the diseases and keep the environment free of pollution, no tangible step has been taken yet to address it.
But the villagers differ. “The deceased persons include some who were not alcoholic. With the middle-aged people falling prey, their respective families are bearing the brunt. Nobody has come forward to their rescue,” said Jambu Sahu, a local.
The villagers have appealed to the authorities to save them from the life-threatening diseases. They have urged the administration to organise a medical camp in the village to make a thorough health check-up of all villagers.
In-charge medical officer of Soro CHC Mihir Mohapatra feigned ignorance about the deaths.
However, he assured of intimating the matter to CDMO and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that would find out the reasons of the deaths.