Two weeks after massive flooding engulfed much of Kashmir, India, countless bloated livestock carcasses now floating across the waterlogged region are causing waterborne diseases, according to Reuters.
Doctors are already seeing cases of diarrhea, skin allergies and fungus among the population as rescue workers rush in medical aid, water pumps and purification systems, Reuters reported.
Dr. Swati Jha with the aid group Americares said Tuesday that "the most essential need right now is that of clean water," according to Reuters.
In Indian Kashmir, more than 200 people have been killed and another 275,000 evacuated since the floods hit 13 days ago, Reuters reported.
"Floating carcasses have become a big source of worry with most houses still waterlogged. We are struggling to get in touch with government health officials," said Abul Syed Rahman, who owns three hotels in Kashmir, according to Reuters.
Both the Indian and Pakistani sides of the disputed Himalayan region have seen extensive flooding this month with Srinagar particularly hard hit, Reuters reported. Authorities say the cost of damage in Indian-administered Kashmir may run into billions of dollars.
The federal government delivered 25 water filtration plants with the capacity to filter 400,000 liters a day, and 13 metric tones of water-purification tablets, according to Reuters. More than 200,000 people have been rescued in the past eight days and communication networks have been partially restored.
Zubair Khwaja, a doctor who normally works at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences but has been volunteering with the Muslim Students Board, a group that runs a religious school in Srinagar, said people have been coming in with respiratory infections and gastric problems, Reuters reported.
With acres of stagnant water remaining in the city, Khwaja warned the risk of waterborne diseases would increase, saying "you can smell the air," according to Reuters.
