Cuttack, March 26: A 24-hour health camp today began at Jobra, where a number of jaundice cases have been reported since Thursday, along with a door-to-door survey to detect the disease and provide immediate treatment.

"So far, around 30 jaundice patients have been detected in five localities of Jobra. Our health workers are spreading awareness and distributing halogen tablets," said chief district medical officer Prafulla Behera.

Last year, while unauthorised water supply pipelines had been attributed to the jaundice outbreak at Jobra, this year, execution of the Japan International Co-operation Agency-funded sanitation project was to be blamed. "In several places, the leakages got developed during execution of the Japan International Co-operation Agency-funded sanitation project," said the head of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation's standing committee for public health, water supply and drainage Ranjan Biswal.#

"The jaundice outbreak was caused by contamination of drinking water due to leakages in pipelines that were aligned near the drainage channels. We are appealing to the public to drink only boiled water since it will take some time to replace the leaked pipelines," Behera said.

Temporary drinking water tanks have been installed at Majhi Sahi, Charigharia, Nua Sahi, Tinapita Sahi and Pasreswar Sahi. "Eight temporary tanks will supply drinking water," said assistant engineer of public health engineering department Bhawani Shankar Mohanty.

Besides, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and urban development minister Puspendra Singhdeo took stock of the jaundice situation. Nayak said: "All required steps are being taken to contain the outbreak. The survey teams to detect jaundice cases will be increased from six to 20."

Singhdeo said: "All old pipelines in the city will be replaced. Some new pipelines will also be laid. An estimated Rs 76 crore will be spent for it."

Last year, more than 1,000 unauthorised drinking water connections had been detected at Jobra.