Rayagada: Villagers, including children, at Dongasil village of Kashipur block in the district are affected with skin infection reportedly for drinking polluted stream water.

The villagers said the children had developed skin infection like white and black patches and scars all over their bodies.

"Almost all the children of the village are down with skin infection. After itching for a day or two, scars are developed on the skin, and it is rapidly spreading all over the body. The children are the worst sufferers of the disease," said Dongasil resident Siba Nayak.

Situated at a distance of about 80km from the district headquarters town of Rayagada, the village houses around 400 families and has a population of over 2,000.

The villagers suspect that the consumption of polluted stream water could be the reason behind the skin disease.

"Out of the 12 tube wells at the village, nine are lying defunct. Also, only four to five buckets of water can be collected from the tube wells that are functioning. Hence, the villagers are forced to depend on the polluted stream water for consumption, and that may be the reason behind the outbreak of such disease," said Ruka Nayak, another villager.

With the nearest hospital located at Kashipur, 20km from the village, the villagers prefer to depend on traditional treatment to visiting the health centre.

Also, no health employees have ever visited the village to take stock of the situation in the recent times.

"Over 100 children are down with the disease, and there is every chance of the children developing other ailments. Consumption of contaminated water may lead to stomach, lungs and kidney problems," said Rajesh Bagh, another villager.

The villagers allege that though on several occasions, the villagers have approached the authorities concerned to repair the defunct tube wells, but in vain.

"Apart from treating the affected children and adults of the village, immediate steps should be taken to repair the defunct tube wells. Or else, the condition may aggravate," said Bagh.

However, Rayagada chief district medical officer Chandrika Prasad Das expressed his ignorance about the matter.

"A health team from Kasipur will visit the village shortly and examine the patients," said Das.