Sambalpur, Nov. 19: A rise in jaundice cases due to contaminated water have emerged as a major concern for the residents here.

Health department officials attribute the outbreak of the disease to contaminated water. “On an average, 15 cases of jaundice are being reported at the district headquarters hospital on a daily basis. Most of the cases are from the city and its peripheral areas,” said chief district medical officer Jagat Krushna Samantray.

Additional district medical officer of public health Ashok Das said: “Cases of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E were being reported at the hospital. These are water-borne diseases.”

Das said: “Several water supply pipelines are adjacent to sewers at several places in Sambalpur. Due to leakages in the pipelines, drain water is seeping through and contaminating the water meant for drinking and other household activities. We have written to the public health department and the engineering department to take immediate steps.”

Epidemiologist of the district headquarters hospital Rajendra Panda said: “The disease could be controlled if we take precautionary measures and consume safe water.”

The health department has initiated steps to make people aware of the problem.

Residents had approached the district administration and demanded immediate steps to contain the disease. In their view, the Mahanadi water is being contaminated due to industrial discharges.

A pollution control board official said: “The industries, which are located in the area are the air-polluting ones. Besides, no industry is releasing its waste into the river directly. Anthropogenic activities are the reasons behind the contamination of water here.”

Executive engineer of the public health and engineering department M.N. Nanda said: “A team has been formed to identify the leakages on the pipelines.” He said the authorities were asking the people to repair leakages of their pipelines, which are used to draw water from the main pipe.