Morada: Diarrhoea broke out in Morada block of Mayurbhanj district and has been spreading over a week.
About 26 people were affected by the water-borne disease at Khuntapla in Samkhemundi panchayat. The number of patients is reportedly increasing every day while most of them are admitted to Kisantandi and Kosta hospitals.
The spread of the disease has triggered panic among the people. Two days ago, a team of health officials visited the village.
Meanwhile, a five-member team from Kisantandi hospital and an eight-member team from the district headquarters hospital in Baripada reached the village and took stock of the situation.
They distributed medicines to the people and cast bleaching powder in the village pond.
However, villagers alleged that the health department failed to check its spread early while the CDMO has been accused of taking the situation casually. Locals alleged there is provision of free medicine for poor patients at hospitals, but two women patients were asked by hospital staff to buy medicines.
Vice-president of state BJP, Rajkishore Das, reached the village and blamed poor sanitation for the outbreak of the disease.
“There are no toilets in the village. People use contaminated water of the pond and a tube well. Domestic animals also drink water from there. I have apprised the Collector of the problems of the village,” he added.
Block chairperson Salati Murmu visited the village Saturday and assured that toilets and a new tube will be set up in the village soon.
2 die in Kalahandi
Bhawanipatna: Panic gripped residents of Kiapadar and Karlapat panchayats in T. Rampur block in Kalahandi district after diarrhoea spread in the villages. Two persons died after being affected by the water-borne disease. The deceased were identified as Kalia Majhi (35) of Tentuliapadar in Kiapadar and Bijay Majhi (35) of Selempadar in Karlapat. Meanwhile, many more including children and women are undergoing treatment for the disease at several CHCs and the district headquarters hospital. Two medical teams have been sent to the panchayats to collect blood samples. The situation is under control and steps are being taken to check the spread of the disease, the CDMO said.
PNN