Diarrhoea Outbreak Suspected In Cachar’s Udharbond, Delay or Discrepancy Under Scanner

A supposed diarrhoea outbreak has affected people across several areas of Cachar district’s Udharbond region, with hundreds of people falling ill in the last week. However, the Joint Director of Health, Cachar, has officially put the number much lower, raising questions as authorities begin an investigation into the cause. Even with such a case load, the water source has not yet been tested by the authorities to determine the cause behind the local outbreak. District Commissioner of Cachar told us that the concerned officer has been instructed to enquire.

The affected areas include Salganga, Bazarghat, Kadamtala, Champatila and Khaspur, where locals have reported symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and loose motion. The situation first came to light on Tuesday (14 April). Children and elderly persons are said to be the worst affected, with several households reporting at least one sick member.

A local panchayat member alleged that the drinking water supply could be a major cause behind the outbreak. He claimed that the water supplied through pipelines is often dirty, dark in colour and occasionally contains worms. According to him, multiple people in his locality, including his wife, are suffering from similar symptoms. He also said that a health worker who came to administer saline mentioned that cases were being reported from other areas as well.

The locals added that while vomiting is less common, most patients are experiencing severe diarrhoea. He further alleged that a medical team visited the area but surveyed only a few houses before leaving.

Dr Abdul Latif from the Salganga Model Hospital stated that after receiving information about the situation, medical teams were immediately deployed for door-to-door surveys and awareness drives. He said the teams are educating residents on hygiene practices and preventive measures. While he estimated that the number of cases could be around 100, he stressed that confirmation would require further investigation. He also said that the PHE water supply is being monitored and instructed to clean the water supply systems regularly. Water samples are yet to be tested to determine if contamination is the source of the outbreak. He advised residents to boil or filter water before drinking.

Joint Director of Health, Dr Sumona Naiding, told Barak Bulletin that she received initial information about the situation only on Sunday (April 19), days after the outbreak was first reported. She said preliminary reports suggest around 30 to 40 cases and denied claims of over 100 people being affected. When asked about a possible delay in reporting or a cover-up, she said, “No such issue exists”. She confirmed that the matter is under investigation and that water quality is yet to be examined. She added that, “ORS is being distributed among affected patients”.

District Commissioner of Cachar, Ayush Garg, said that his office has received the information and that it has also been reported in the official health bulletin. He stated that the concerned Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health) have been informed and that a detailed inquiry is underway from all possible angles. However, he could not confirm when exactly the administration first received the report.

As investigations continue, the situation highlights growing concerns over drinking water safety and the need for prompt coordination between health and civic authorities. Locals have been urged to maintain hygiene and avoid consuming untreated water until the cause of the outbreak is confirmed.

However, it is important to note that the cases were brought to the attention of the hospital on Tuesday (April 13), and several days have passed since then. The Joint Director of Health became aware of the situation only on Sunday (April 19), raising concerns about the timeliness of the response. Moreover, with the water yet to be examined, questions remain over how seriously the administration is addressing this potential public health risk.