The village of Chandsa in Haryana's Palwal district currently lives under a cloud of fear and anxiety. Over the past two weeks, more than 20 people have succumbed to illness here. The disease is spreading so rapidly that people have started calling it the 'Village of Patients.' A strange uneasiness overtakes you the moment you step foot in the village.
When the Aaj Tak team arrived at Chandsa, the sign at the village entrance welcoming people to 'Chandsa Gram Panchayat' appeared ordinary. Yet, the atmosphere inside was anything but. Silence pervaded, fear etched on the faces of its residents. Discussions of illness echoed through every home.
Over 20 Deaths in Two Weeks Cause Panic
A short walk into the village led to a teenage boy, approximately 15 to 17 years old. Asked if this was the village with the recent deaths, he quickly replied, “Yes, yes, many have died here. This is the village of patients.” His words carried both fear and a stark truth.
Source: aajtak
Moving further, a small medical shop stood, outside which a man read a newspaper. When inquired where the affected area was, he glanced briefly and responded, “Every house has a sick person. Are you from the government?” Upon learning we were from the media, he directed us to the health camp.
Villagers Call It the 'Village of Patients'
The health camp was teeming with people. A truck, emblazoned with 'TB Free India,' had villagers lined up for blood sampling. The disease's rampage instilled a pervasive dread. Everyone wanted to know how it spread and how to combat it.
At the camp, an elderly woman remarked, “It’s a plague here.” In local dialect, she expressed, “What can we do now, our children are falling sick.” She explained how children were becoming ill in large numbers.
Hepatitis B Confirmed, Screening Intensified
Doctors at the camp were distributing medicines while another team collected blood samples. Upon questioning, it was revealed that many villagers were confirmed with Hepatitis B. Consequently, a screenings campaign was initiated to identify infected individuals and curb the disease's spread.
Source: aajtak
As the Aaj Tak team arrived, a crowd gathered, each eager to share their troubles. One person stated, “They say it’s just Hepatitis spreading, but people also get sick from drinking dirty water. I can show you around the village on my bike.” He pointed to the open sewers and contaminated water as factors spreading disease, not just the virus.
Hepatitis B Confirmed, Screening Intensified
Doctors and Nodal Officer Vasudev Gupta explained that Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood, unsafe sexual practices, and shared syringes. According to the officer, some villagers were infected through unsafe practices and injection use. Meanwhile, a woman approached a female reporter in tears, lamenting the loss of her 14-year-old nephew, citing inadequate medical facilities.
Upon reaching the child's home, the escalating severity was palpable. The area lacked proper housing, roads were broken, and stench filled the air. Drains overflowed onto the streets, where young children played nearby. This scene illustrated that the crisis was more than just illness; lack of sanitation, poor health facilities, and awareness were core issues.
Children's Illnesses Increase Families' Worries
The situation in Chandsa village demonstrates that when timely administrative measures are not enacted, sanitation is neglected, and health awareness is under-addressed, diseases spread quickly, leading to fatalities. Health department teams are currently active in the village, investigating and identifying infected persons. Yet, the fear lingers among villagers. Continuous health aid, awareness campaigns, and hygiene improvements are essential for restoring normalcy.
