Health Concerns / Kalahandi village battles kidney disease crisis as toll rises

Bhawanipatna, Nov 7: A mysterious surge in kidney-related illnesses has left residents of Bhikajharan village in Odisha's Kalahandi district living in fear, with villagers alleging that more than eight people have died over the past year while several others continue to undergo treatment.

Located barely 17 kilometres from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters, Bhikajharan village has emerged as a possible hotspot for kidney disease.

The village, home to over 250 families, is reportedly witnessing an alarming number of kidney-related cases, with at least one patient in almost every household, according to local residents.

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Many affected villagers have been forced to seek treatment in major hospitals in Cuttack and Visakhapatnam, while several families are grieving the loss of their loved ones.

The growing number of deaths and illnesses has triggered widespread concern among locals, who are demanding an investigation into the root cause of the health crisis.

Among the recent victims was 31-year-old Rohit Sabar, who died on June 14 while undergoing treatment at the Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital. Tragically, his mother also succumbed to kidney-related illness just ten days later.

In another incident, 25-year-old Mahendra Sabar died barely three months before his planned marriage.

Villagers claim that more than eight deaths linked to kidney ailments have occurred in the village within a year, while several others remain bedridden or are receiving treatment at various hospitals.

The situation has left many families struggling emotionally and financially as they bear the burden of expensive medical treatment.

Despite the reported rise in cases, residents allege that neither the district administration nor the health department has paid adequate attention to the issue. Villagers are increasingly concerned about potential environmental or water-related causes behind the outbreak.

When asked about the matter, the Chief District Medical Officer said a team would visit the village to investigate the situation. He indicated that contaminated drinking water could be one of the possible factors behind the illnesses, though the exact cause remains uncertain.

As fear continues to grip Bhikajharan, residents hope the authorities will take urgent steps to identify the cause behind the growing number of kidney disease cases and deaths.