Floodwaters still stagnant in many areas of Pulwama
Local fear of disease outbreak
Pulwama: More than a week after the devastating floods in south Kashmir, large stretches of residential areas in Pulwama district remain submerged in stagnant floodwaters, triggering serious health concerns among the local population.
Residents fear an outbreak of waterborne and vector-borne diseases as the authorities have allegedly failed to take timely preventive measures.
Locals say that despite repeated appeals, no major intervention has been made by the Health Department or the Jal Shakti Department to safeguard people against potential epidemics.
The situation is particularly alarming in Kakapora and Ratnipora hamlets where floodwaters are still accumulated around homes, schools, and public places.
“We have been left on our own. The floodwater in our locality has already started making people sick. No team has visited to assess the ground situation or guide us about precautionary measures,” said Ghulam Nabi Reshi, a resident of Ratnipora.
Similarly, residents of Kakapora alleged that the Health Department’s response has been superficial. “They gave us a few litres of phenyl which we sprayed at three schools, but what about the rest of the area where foul smell is emanating from stagnant water? This poses a grave risk of diseases, especially among children,” said Naseer Ahmad, a local.
Adding to the woes, villagers have accused the Jal Shakti Department of failing to ensure safe drinking water supply. “During the floods, we were provided with potable water, but now we are being supplied raw Jhelum river water which is unsafe for drinking. The administration should ensure clean water supply for at least a few months so that people remain protected from infections,” said Ali Mohammad of Kakapora.
Residents also complained that both the district administration and concerned departments have remained largely absent on the ground. “On paper, teams may have been deputed, but in reality, no concrete steps have been taken to provide relief.
The stagnant water around homes and schools continues to endanger our health,” said Mohammad Yaqoob of Ratnipora.
It is worth mentioning that dozens of villages in Pulwama were badly affected by the floods, with water entering homes and damaging vast tracts of agricultural land and horticulture.
Farmers have suffered heavy losses, while the fear of epidemics is now looming large over the affected communities.
Locals have appealed to the district administration to immediately launch large-scale dewatering operations, ensure the supply of clean drinking water, and carry out fumigation and sanitation drives in affected areas to prevent the spread of diseases.
