Depollute Saryu to prevent AES in Muzaffarpur: study

The outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur could be stopped by checking pollution in Saryu river, whose water is used by several people daily, an AIIMS study said today.
A study conducted under AIIMS, Patna, Director G K Singh has identified contamination of the Saryu as a potential cause for outbreak of AES in Muzaffarpur and other areas killing hundreds of citizens every year.
Speaking at a workshop at the AIIMS, organised by a Delhi-based group Data Boot Camp, Singh stressed the need for checking pollution of the Saryu for prevention of AES.
Quoting the findings of the study, he said the contaminated water of the river is used by hundreds of people, risking their health.

"Since pre-monsoon, the infected feces in north bank of Saryu joins north bank of Ganges and pre monsoon weakened Gandak can not stop Ganges from carrying it east of Gandak into Muzzafarpur. So first case occurs in Muzzafarpur," Singh said.
He said soon study about level of pollution of Falgu river for the same reason would be conducted in Gaya which seems to be a potential reason for AES in Gaya.

He added that drones would be used for collecting sample of stool for study of pollution of river water in Gaya.
The study found that monsoon washes Muzzafarpur epidemic away but causes flood which contaminates surface water sources in Gorakhpur. As flood water subside such sources are used for toilet cleaning in Gorakhpur causing the post monsoon epidemic of Gorakhpur.

"This can be prevented by making Sulabh Shauchalayas near such surface water sources specially post floods in combination with midstream deflection for cleaning the North bank of Saryu pollution," Singh said quoting the study.