Introduction
Uddanam, a village in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, is famous for its stunning coastline—the beauty of which has overshadowed a seething health catastrophe, one that has beleaguered the area for centuries. Abnormally large numbers of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) have been found here, specifically those of indeterminate etiology (CKDu). The causative pathogen is wholly attributed to groundwater use by residents, affecting thousands of families belonging to different mandals like Ichchapuram, Kanchili, Kaviti, and Palasa. The report is a science review of the contribution of Uddanam groundwater quality played in human existence and health derived from scientific reality and local healthcare statistics.
Alarmingly high Healthcare Statistics
Research by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has shown that in Uddanam, nearly 25–30% of adults suffer from some form of CKD. Certain villages like Kaviti have achieved a prevalence of 35%, much higher than the rest of the country’s average of 2–3% for CKD.
According to a 2023 report by Andhra Pradesh’s Health Department, more than 34,000 patients have been diagnosed with CKD in 116 villages of the Uddanam belt. Spookily enough, the majority of these patients are under the age of 50 years, and in a few instances, teenagers and young adults were also diagnosed as well. The high mortality rate caused by the disease has also rendered it a social and economic tragedy, since working members of families have been lost and compelled to pay expensive medical bills. Groundwater Quality: A Silent Threat
Groundwater contamination has been determined by numerous scientific analyses to be one of the possible explanations for this epidemic. Groundwater water samples taken from a few of the borewells in the region have contained high levels of:
Silica (>100 mg/L in the majority of the samples)
Fluoride (>2 mg/L, above the WHO acceptable limit of 1.5 mg/L)
Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic (found in trace amounts)
1000–1800 mg/L more TDS than the safe drinking water standard.
These poisons are reported to cause nephrotoxicity that gradually and irreversibly damages the kidneys over an extended duration of time. Consuming, preparing food, and bathing with water contaminated by this toilet water for extended durations and in regular intervals leads to chronic exposure causing permanent damage to their health. In addition, lack of knowledge and poor access to substitute sources of water have placed the residents in peril for decades.
Socioeconomic Impact on Human Life
The impact of groundwater-mediated CKD is not only health-focused—it has devastated the socio-economic fabric of Uddanam. Poor families are forced to spend huge sums of their earnings on dialysis, medication, and hospitalization. Private-sector dialysis charges ₹2,500 per session, and patients require 2–3 sessions a week, so treatment is out of the question for poor families.
Workforce and education levels within the region decline as most youths lose their lives from the disease at a young age or become caregivers for ailing family members. More than 4,000 households have lost one or more employees due to CKD over the past two decades, approximated by local NGOs.
Women and elderly are disproportionately affected as they are most likely to be the last individuals to get medical treatment, and this aggravates health inequalities.
Government and Intervention in Research
Andhra Pradesh Government, understanding the extent of the crisis, took the initiative to start Uddanam Nephropathy Research Center with Harvard School of Public Health. The following steps were then taken:
RO water plants have been installed in all villages so that safe drinking water would be available.
CKD screening camps are held periodically so that the cases are detected at an early stage.
Free dialysis is made available through government hospitals under the Aarogyasri program.
A nephrology unit in Palasa Hospital, with regional needs in mind, was instituted.
While the measures taken above have helped in improved control of our diseases, prevention in the way of safe drinking water is the most essential need. Experts still advocate universal piped water supply from safer sources like rivers or sea water distillation plants.
Community Awareness and Behavioral Change
The other big hindrance to solving the problem has been people’s ignorance. Groundwater continues to be consumed by the majority of the villagers on a regular basis despite warnings due to cultural practices, distrust of external agencies, or unavailability of alternatives. Local health workers, NGOs, and panchayats have initiated behavior change campaigns that increased awareness, but there is much left to be done.
Increased health education, regular water testing, and transparent communication about water safety are needed to alter public behavior. School-based water safety education and community-based monitoring can foster long-term resilience.
Conclusion
The Uddanam area of Andhra Pradesh is a stark reminder of how environmental neglect, particularly inept groundwater management, can lead to a collective public health tragedy.
With a CKD prevalence rate of over ten times the national average, thousands of lives were lost or destroyed, and the economic cost has been huge. Scientific studies overall indicate that the groundwater of this area, which is laden with silica, fluoride, and other contaminants, is the major culprit behind this medical disaster. In the coming times, the government must spend on safe water infrastructure, construct early warning systems, and invest in environmental restoration. Transparency on the part of the government and public education must also be initiated to prevent such further tragedies. Uddanam tragedy is not just a local health emergency—it is a wake-up call for the entire nation of India to take stock and conserve groundwater resources for public health.
Prepared by
Bura Vijay Kumar
School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, SR University
Ananthasagar, Warangal.
vijaykumar.bura@gmail.com
