Sambalpur: Eight people are suffering from kidney ailments in Kaunsipani village in Bhaliakata panchayat in Sambalpur district’s Rairakhol block. On Saturday, a 40-year-old woman, Urmila Mirdha, died due to kidney disease, according to medical reports. Villagers claim, seven people, including Urmila, have died due to kidney issues in the last five years.
On Saturday, Urmila was admitted to Jujumura government hospital after she lost her senses.But doctors declared her dead upon arrival. Urmila lost her husband to the same disease a few years ago. The couple had two daughters and one son.“I was diagnosed with kidney disease in January this year. I am scared I will also die like others in the village. We strongly believe the water is causing the disease. I am being treated at Vimsar, Burla. The medical team have taken my blood sample for tests on Wednesday. We should be provided proper drinking water,” said Jadu Mirdha (53), a kidney patient.
The 164 members of 30 families living in the village depend upon tubewells, wells and borewells for drinking water with the drinking water supply to the village being defunct.“A medical officer was told to visit the village and prepare a report. When we visit, they ask us to resume water supply,” said Ashok Das, the district public health officer.
Ranjit Pradhan, a pharmacist in the medical team, added, “We visited the village on Wednesday. There is a water problem in the area. People are drinking borewell and well water. RWSS officials accompanied us to the village and collected water samples to tests.”
Pradhan added, “There is no medical proof of kidney disease in the six deaths earlier. In the current cases, no kidney patients are alcoholic. They were neither diabetic nor hypertensive. Urmila also did not have a medical history. All suspicion is now on water quality.”

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