Udhampur 31 August :-Udhampur’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anil Manhas, while talking issued a crucial health advisory for the district’s residents following extensive damage caused by recent heavy rainfall and landslides. He stated that the adverse weather has severely damaged roads and property, but more critically, it has compromised the quality of drinking water.
Dr. Manhas explained that such situations often lead to water contamination, raising the risk of waterborne diseases. Through a public appeal, he strongly urged people to consume only clean, portable water. To address the issue immediately, he has taken up the matter with the Jal Shakti Department to repair broken pipes and leaking water sources on a priority basis to ensure the supply of clean drinking water is restored.
Furthermore, due to disruptions in the electricity supply in many areas caused by the rains, many water filters in homes are not functional. Dr. Manhas advised that the safest measure is to boil water for at least 20 minutes and then cool it before drinking to prevent illnesses like vomiting, diarrhea, typhoid, and jaundice.
Emphasizing that prevention is better than cure, he said the distribution of over 3 lakh chlorine tablets across all blocks in the district. His health teams are conducting door-to-door distribution, and tablets are also available free of cost at all health institutions, including Sub-Centres, PHCs, and CHCs, where staff will also demonstrate how to chlorinate water properly. He also assured that ample Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is available at all health centres for anyone experiencing symptoms and encouraged severe cases to report to the hospital for treatment. Dr. Manhas confirming that all medical staff are present at their respective institutions with full supplies of medicine, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services are available to the public.