Residents blame negligence as jaundice spreads in Shopian

October 1, 2025 by News Desk

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Meer Irfan

An outbreak of jaundice has been reported across several areas of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, with health authorities tracing the cause to contaminated drinking water.

Locals told The Kashmiriyat that the worst-hit areas include Turkawangam, Trenz, Pahnoo, Sedow, Pehlipora, and parts of Shopian town, where dozens of cases have surfaced over the past week. They said that the patients are showing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and yellowing of the eyes, triggering fear of a wider health crisis.

Doctors at the District Hospital Shopian said most cases remain manageable but warned that negligence could worsen the situation. “Jaundice is treatable, but if ignored, it can lead to complications. People should immediately seek medical help instead of relying only on home remedies,” said a doctor on duty. He said, “Jaundice is largely waterborne, and our initial reports confirm contamination in supply lines. Water samples from multiple schemes are being tested to trace the exact source.”

Locals, however, are furious at what they describe as longstanding negligence by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department. Abdul Rashid, a resident of Turkawangam, said. “We have complained for months about leaking pipelines and dirty water channels, but officials turned a blind eye. Now our families are falling sick. This is not just an outbreak, it is a failure of the system.”

Shabnum Khan from Sedow, whose two children are undergoing treatment, voiced concern about schools remaining open. “Children are the most vulnerable. The government should at least ensure clean water is supplied through tankers until pipelines are repaired. Otherwise, we are exposing our kids to more danger.”

In response, the Health Department has issued an advisory urging residents to boil water before consumption, maintain hygiene, and report symptoms without delay. PHE and health teams have also been dispatched to disinfect water sources, repair faulty lines, and conduct awareness drives in affected villages.

Civil society groups in Shopian have appealed for urgent intervention, demanding that authorities not only contain the outbreak but also put long-term measures in place to ensure safe drinking water