Cachar, July 4: The Cachar District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has issued a public advisory urging residents living along the Jatinga River to avoid using its water for the next 48 hours following fears of formalin contamination after a tanker accident.
According to the district administration, a tanker transporting formalin met with an accident near Jatinga Bridge on July 4. Officials suspect that part of the chemical may have leaked into the river, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures to protect public health.
In view of the possible contamination, the DDMA has advised residents not to consume or use the river water for drinking or cooking, avoid entering the river, and ensure that livestock are not allowed to drink the water during the advisory period.
The administration has also instructed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to temporarily halt water extraction from its drinking water project in the Barkhola Assembly constituency, which sources water from the Jatinga River, as a precautionary measure to prevent any potential health hazards.
Officials said the situation is under continuous observation and appealed to the public to comply with the advisory until further directions are issued by the authorities.
