While seasonal outbreaks are common, residents of Muddapura No.10 in Ballari district are grappling with an unusual surge in joint pain cases. Even young individuals in their 30s are struggling to sit or stand with ease. Suspecting contamination in borewell water, locals claim the condition has affected nearly 5% of the village population within a year and are urging authorities to investigate the root cause.
HM Sharanayyaswami, a village priest, shared that people below 40 are unable to climb even a few steps without assistance. “They need help for basic mobility. We’ve appealed to the health department to study the issue and suggest corrective steps,” he said.
Thimmappa Kolli, gram panchayat member from Prabhu Camp, Muddapura No.10, also suspects borewell water to be the culprit. “Though health officials conduct monthly tests and declare the water safe for drinking, the rising number of joint-related cases is alarming,” he said.
He added that despite the presence of RO units, borewell water isn’t being properly purified. A Jal Jeevan Mission drinking water project has been approved to bring Tungabhadra water from Bukkasagar to the village. However, Kolli said the work is progressing slowly and has now stalled. He also stressed the need to replace an old pipeline from Timmalapur to Muddapura No.10.
The gram panchayat includes Belagod and Timmalapur, which are already receiving Tungabhadra river water. Muddapura No.10 has around 5,000 residents, with over 200 reportedly suffering from orthopaedic issues. Many are seeking medical help in Kampli and nearby towns.
Dr Arun G, the taluk health supervisor, stated that after a meeting with villagers on Sunday, a health camp is being organized on Tuesday. “Routine water tests didn’t reveal any bacterial infections or cases of chikungunya. The nutritional quality of the water needs to be assessed by the rural development and panchayat raj department,” he noted.