Dhadkai Dhadkahi | |
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Village | |
Coordinates: 33°04′20″N75°51′13″E / 33.07222°N 75.85361°E | |
Country | India |
Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
District | Doda |
Tehsil | Gandoh (Bhalessa) |
Population (2011 [1] ) | |
• Total | 1,774 |
Demonym | Gujjar Muslims |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Dhadkai (also Dhadkahi) is a village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, known as the "Silent Village of India" due to the high prevalence of hearing and speech impairments in the community. [2]
Dhadkai is located in the Gandoh (Bhalessa) Tehsil, approximately 70 kilometers from Doda and 220 kilometers from Jammu. [3]
The village has a population of around 1,774 people, comprising 970 males and 804 females. [4]
A significant portion of the population is affected by a congenital disorder that causes severe hearing and speech disabilities. The first reported case of hearing and speech impairment in the village dates back to 1901. [3] [5]
The villagers use a local sign language to communicate with each other. This language is based on gestures commonly used by the hearing population, facilitating communication between hearing and non-hearing villagers. [4]
Research has identified mutations in the OTOF, CLDN14, and SLC26A4 genes as major causes of hearing loss in Dhadkai. [5]