New Delhi: Cases of conjunctivitis and skin allergy are mostly being reported from relief camps housing people affected by the flooding in parts of Delhi, city Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday (July 17). Interacting with reporters during his visit to a Delhi government hospital here, he also said all city government departments have been instructed to constantly monitor the situation. Mr Bharadwaj said east Delhi and northeast Delhi have largely been impacted due to the floods due to a swollen Yamuna.
He told reporters,
After flooding, there is a fear of cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria rising. But that trend is not being seen at the moment. Cases of conjunctivitis and skin allergy are mostly being reported from relief camps.
Also Read: 136 Dengue Cases In Delhi, Health Minister Holds Meeting With Officials
Asked about the slight rise in water levels of the Yamuna in Delhi after decreasing marginally, Mr Bharadwaj said there have been rains in parts of north India over the last two days and now drains are discharging into the river, so its level has gone up a bit.
The water level of the Yamuna in Delhi rose slightly to 205.58 metres on Monday morning from 205.52 metres the night before.
He added,
We have asked for data on Hathnikund Barrage.
The river has been in spate for the last one week, swelling to 207.71 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, inundating several key areas in Delhi, after submerging the flood plains.
After breaching the 45-year record, water levels in the Yamuna in Delhi has come down to 207.98 metres at 11 pm on Friday, from 208.66 metres by 7 pm on Thursday, three metres above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.
Meanwhile, Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi on Monday urged people to stay in relief camps as the Yamuna water level was showing a rising trend again.
Due to heavy rains in some areas of Haryana on Sunday, the water level of Yamuna rose slightly, she said.
Also Read: Sundarbans, The Cyclone Capital Of India: The Direct Impact Of Cyclones On Health
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toiletsare used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
