Dhadkai (also Dhadkahi) is a village in the

Doda district Doda district is an administrative district of the Jammu division in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kash ...

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.

Location

Dhadkai is located in the Gandoh (Bhalessa) Tehsil, approximately 70 kilometers from Doda and 220 kilometers from

Jammu Jammu () is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute ...

Population

The village has a population of around 1,774 people, comprising 970 males and 804 females.

Hearing impairments

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.

Local sign language

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.

Genetic basis

Research has identified mutations in the OTOF, CLDN14, and SLC26A4 genes as major causes of hearing loss in Dhadkai.

References

{{reflist Villages in Doda district Doda district Chenab Valley