Amid gastroenteritis outbreak, 5 contaminated springs sealed in Rajouri village

Rajouri, Jul 2: The authorities in border district Rajouri, in an effort to contain gastroenteritis cases in Sakri village of Kotranka sub-division of Rajouri, has sealed five natural springs after E-coli contamination was detected in two of them.

The outbreak has affected around 40 people, with one death in the past five days. These five springs are located in the affected village out of which two have been been found positive with samples of bacterial.

Officials said that these five springs have been sealed in order to prohibit people from using this water amid apprehension of further spread of gastroenteritis after consumption of this contaminated water. Besides laying barbed wire to close entry in these natural springs, field staff of Jal Shakti Department has been deployed at these springs to restrict use of water. According to Chief Medical Officer, Rajouri, Dr Manohar Lal Rana, the district administration has also issued a public health advisory urging residents to avoid using untreated spring water and consume only safe, treated water.