Viral fever grips Shopian, 2 kids dead PHE blamed for unsafe water supply
Srinagar, March 16: The sudden outbreak of viral fever in Dayaroo Shopian claimed lives of two children on Monday while dozens of others are battling for their lives in hospital.
Residents of Dayaroo village, 10 km from Shopian said over a dozen children of the area had fallen ill to the mysterious disease on Saturday.
They said children and some elderly persons of the village began to cough severely. "We got panicked and took the children to hospital where doctors informed us that they were suffering from viral fever," said Ali Muhammad, an elderly person of the village.
The situation took an ugly turn when two children - three-month-old Shahid Ahmad and four-years-old Sajad Ahmad Mir died of the disease. The news of the death of two children spread like a wild fire following which the villagers staged protest demonstration.
They alleged Pulwama district hospital authorities of ill-treating children. "Instead of treating children at the hospital, doctors advised us to take them home. The two children could have been saved had doctors treated them well," a resident of the village Ali Muhammad said.
While the district administration said a special medical team had been deputed to Dayaroo, residents alleged the PHE department of supplying unsafe drinking water, resulting in the death of two children. "We have time and again taken the matter of supply of polluted water with the district administration but our pleas fell to deaf ears," Muhammad said.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Muhammad Ramzan Thokur said: "We have deputed a special medical team to the area to take stock of the situation."
Meanwhile Chief Medical Officer Shopian, Rajinder Singh said the children died as they were suffering from chest infection. "I have sent my team to the village but they are yet to come with the report. Our preliminary investigation revels that the deaths occurred as a good chunk of children in the village were suffering from severe chest infection. It could be viral fever," he said.
Hat Tip to Okieman
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