India, March 12 -- Marking World Kidney Day on March 12, growing concerns have been raised over the increasing number of kidney disease cases in several districts of Odisha, allegedly linked to contaminated groundwater.Flagging the alarming situation across the State, SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has written to the Public health Department urging immediate steps to ensure the supply of safe drinking water in the affected areas.

Official data indicate that regions such as Narsinghpur in Cuttack district along with parts of Dhenkanal, Balangir and Jharsuguda have emerged as hotspots for kidney disease. Health experts attribute the growing number of cases to high concentrations of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and ...