Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir’s health department yesterday dismissed as “rumours” the spread of any epidemic in the flood-affected Jammu region and said they are continuously monitoring the situation.
“There is no epidemic of diarrhoeal diseases in Jammu province after the recent floods in the state,” said director, helth services, Baljeet Singh Pathania.
He said the department is vigilant and monitoring the situation on day to day basis.
“Mobile health teams are continuously visiting the affected villages, generating awareness about the danger of waterborne diseases and distributing chlorine tablets to the households.
“The health department is committed to remain vigilant for at least two months and the public is requested to undertake preventive measures,” he said.
Poacher killed in Assam national park
Guwahati: The guards of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam shot dead a poacher at Burhapahar range yesterday, said officials.
“We were tipped off about a poaching attempt and accordingly alerted the guards patrolling the park,” said a official adding that around 2.30 a.m. the guards sighted the poachers and challenged them.
“The poachers opened fired forcing the guards to retaliate. In the ensuing gun battle one of the poachers was killed while the rest of the group managed to escape,” he said.
One .303 rifle and live cartridges were recovered from about the slain poacher who is yet to be identified, officials said.
Poaching has become one of the major concerns of the authorities at the Kaziranga National Park, a Unesco world heritage site, and other protected areas in Assam.
Twenty-three one-horned rhinos have already been killed by poachers in Assam this year with 22 in Kaziranga alone.
Agencies
