Cuttack, May 6: Cancer cases are quietly on the rise in Odisha’s major cities, and experts believe the cause may be hiding in plain sight.
According to government reports and health studies, heavy metal pollution in rivers like the Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Daya, Brahmani, and Rushikuliya is emerging as a significant threat to public health.
Every day, cities such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, and Berhampur discharge millions of litres of untreated sewage and industrial waste into these rivers, contaminating the water with dangerous levels of pollutants.
An alarming study backed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) warns that residents living near these polluted water bodies are at high risk of exposure to toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, and aluminium. These metals have been directly linked to cancer, particularly gallbladder cancer.
The impact is already being felt: Odisha has seen a sharp 11.5% rise in cancer cases over the past five years. Health experts are calling for immediate investigations into the role of water contamination and industrial pollution, especially from mining activities, in fueling this crisis.
The warning is clear and urgent without stricter pollution controls and improved water management, this silent health crisis is likely to worsen. Experts stress that immediate action is crucial to safeguard public health in the region.
