6 die due to mysterious illness in Gairsain
The villagers are in panic over unknown illness (headache, fever, weakness) for the past one month in Matkot village of Garsain development block in Chamoli district. It is being told that so far six people suffering from the ilnness have died in the village, while more than 50 are admitted in hospitals in Srinagar and Haldwani. Villagers allege that the medical department is ignoring the severity of the disease. At the same time, doctors say that there are no symptoms of infectious disease in patients, treatment is being done through camps.
The village of Matkot, located just ten km from the headquarters of the Gairsain block, has been effected for the past one month. In most families, children, youth and the elderly are lying in bed due to illness. The well-to-do families of the village are treating their families at the base hospitals, Srinagar and Haldwani, but the poor families are visiting the Garsain hospital. While there is a shortage of physicians and medicines despite being a community health center. Six people died in the village in the past month. The health department seems to be completely irresponsible about the illness.
Surendra Singh a native of the village said that no doctor was present in the camp set up in the village two weeks ago, while the camp on Saturday also proved to be futile. There was no system of investigation nor any specialist doctor was present in the camp on the road, one km from the village. At present, more than 150 are being reported sick in a village with a population of 500, which needs high-level treatment.
Regarding the matter, the another villager Darban Singh said that departmental personnel distributing medicines in the camp did not even bother to reach the village. The villagers were not informed about the camp in advance. More than 74 sick people were screened at the camp on Saturday, which the department is referring to as a common seasonal disease.
