The death of a 12-year-old girl due to suspected Hepatitis E has sparked serious concern in Hazara Singh Wala, a border village in Ferozepur located about 10 km from the Indo-Pak border. The incident has drawn attention to delayed development works, unsafe drinking water, and poor sanitation conditions. Significantly, children account for the majority of suspected cases reported so far.
Young Student’s Death Prompts Health Action
Shelja, a Class 5 student at the government primary school in the village, died on February 23 after suffering from symptoms consistent with Hepatitis E. Immediately after her death, the district health department organised medical check-up camps in the area.
According to health officials, teams have identified 15 suspected Hepatitis E cases so far, most of them children. In addition, several adults have reported stomach infections at the camps. Shelja’s 16-year-old sister and brother are also unwell and experiencing similar symptoms.
The higher number of affected children has emerged as a major concern for the district administration.
Overflowing Village Pond Raises Contamination Fears
Hazara Singh Wala has a population of 3,525 and a village pond that frequently overflows. At times, contaminated water from the pond enters low-lying residential areas. School staff have expressed fears that sewage may have mixed with the drinking water supply.
Balwinder Singh Laddu, one of the village sarpanches, confirmed that the pond urgently requires cleaning. However, he attributed delays to the absence of works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
“Pond cleaning takes place once every five years and was scheduled for 2025. However, no MGNREGA works were carried out last year or this year. Medical teams are surveying the area and collecting water and food samples, but we are still awaiting reports,” he said.
Gurnam Singh, another sarpanch, stated that although authorities have stopped the overflow, the situation remains worrying. “Children are falling sick in larger numbers, which deeply concerns us,” he added.
Medical Camps and Sample Collection Underway
Dr. Rekha Bhatti, Senior Medical Officer at the Community Health Centre in Mamdot block, confirmed that medical camps are ongoing. “So far, we have reported 15 suspected cases. We are collecting water, food, and blood samples from children. Anyone experiencing fever, stomach infection, yellowing of the eyes, or dark urine must report immediately. We have also arranged for the transfer of serious patients to the district hospital if required,” she said.
Health teams have intensified surveillance while awaiting laboratory confirmation.
Drinking Water Systems Under Scrutiny
Meanwhile, concerns have intensified over drinking water sources in the village. The common RO water system used by residents is currently non-functional. Consequently, many villagers rely on private submersible pumps installed in their homes, with bore depths extending up to 250 feet or more.
Authorities have also examined water quality and the mid-day meal scheme in the village’s government primary and senior secondary schools.
As reported by Indian Express, Rubina Chopra, who holds additional charge as principal of the senior secondary school, stated that the school’s RO system had been checked and found functional. Similarly, Jaswinder Singh, Block Primary Education Officer, confirmed that the primary school’s RO system was operational, though officials collected samples as a precaution since the deceased child studied there.
District Administration Steps In
Providing an official update, Deepshikha Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur, said that as of February 26, authorities had identified 15 suspected Hepatitis E cases, though laboratory confirmation is still awaited. Officials have collected 58 blood samples and 12 water samples, which they sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in Kharar.
She reported that medical teams examined 59 individuals during Thursday’s camp, including 48 children and 11 adults. So far, no hospital admissions have occurred, and all reported cases remain stable.
Preventive Measures and Alternate Water Supply
To control the situation, officials have conducted house-to-house surveys and provided health education to residents. They distributed 27 ORS packets and 1,000 chlorine tablets. Additionally, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department has temporarily stopped the regular water supply and arranged alternate water delivery through tankers.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that the probable cause of the outbreak appears to be contamination or mixing of drinking water with overflow from the village pond. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while awaiting laboratory reports.