Chhattisgarh is facing weather related problems this year due to the extended rainy season resulting in losses of kharif crops and inconvenience to people, but southern part of the State, forested Bastar division, is facing the brunt of the weather which changed its colours frequently here thanks to repeated effects of cyclones in the Arabian Sea which swept the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and the Bay of Bengal inundating large parts of Odisha.
Notably, while the Odisha bore the wrath of ‘Phailin’ cyclone last month losing its precious lives and property, ‘Helen’ cyclone swept Andhra coast just a few days back killing over half a dozen fishermen, besides causing inconvenience to people. However, the rains caused by both ‘Phailin’ and ‘Helen’ took heavy toll on the standing kharif crops ‘paddy’ and maize in Bastar region bordering the two neighbouring States.
Unseasonal rains coupled with frequent changes in temperature with atmosphere having high moisture content have not only affected harvesting of paddy crop, but also led to rise in number of patients of seasonal diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, viral fever, cough & cold, body ache and others. Bastar, Bastanar, Darbha, Mardum, Binta, Kaknar, Koleng are some of the badly affected areas where healthcare services of the State Government did not reach for want of transportation.
As the number of patients of these diseases rose and situation acquired alarming proportion, people started swarming the Jagdalpur Medical College hospital besides private clinics. On the other hand, health department officials were hardly interested in making alternate arrangements of vehicles even if the existing fleet of ambulances and vehicles engaged in detection and prevention of chronic diseases have turned in-operational. On the enquiry, Joint director, health department, Dr S Pandey just assured to looking in to the matter after ascertaining facts from the department officials.