The nationwide pulse polio campaign turned out to be a nightmare in Kashmir Valley on Sunday after an unsubstantiated rumour spread like wildfire that many children died in south Kashmir after consuming the anti-polio potion. Panic-stricken carried their infants to hospitals for check-up and thousands of people gathered in hospitals in utter confusion.
In a matter of minutes, the rumour was carried through internet and social networking sites creating panic in every nook and cranny of the Valley. At some places, announcements were made through public address system of the mosques urging people to take their under-five infants to hospitals for check-up if they have been administered the anti-polio medicine.
Parents immediately began rushing towards the hospitals in whatever mode of transport they could lay hands on. Some city pockets hired chartered buses to carry their infants collectively. The Srinagar city and major towns of Valley witnessed massive traffic jams.
The rumour originated from south Kashmir at around 4 pm about the death of a number of children soon after medicine was administered to them. Even as the authorities, especially the health department officials, used radio and social media to nullify the rumour, they could not stop the flood of people coming out of homes in desperation. Some parents attacked hospital staff and doctors. A senior doctor was heckled when he attempted to explain to a group of people that there was nothing to worry about the drug administration.
Officials said the rumours triggered massive crisis across Kashmir. By the evening, thousands of speeding cars were honking horns on Srinagar roads. The situation began to ease out when repeated announcements were made through radio and other media outlets.
Medical Superintendent GB Panth, Dr Shafqat Khan said that the reports coming from various districts were baseless. “No death has been reported with the pulse polio vaccination from anywhere,” he said.
“People should calm over the issue as the reports coming from the different areas are baseless. People should not pay heed over the issue,” he said.
Health officials said there was no report of death from any quarter of the Valley due to immunization.