Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJP and Congress Tuesday raised the spread of cholera and diarrhoea in the tribal hinterland of Rayagada and nearby districts in the Odisha Assembly
The issue was raised by Opposition chief Whip Mohan Majhi of BJP during Zero Hour who claimed that at least 14 people have died of cholera in Kashipur block of Rayagada district even as the state government’s death figure stood at nine.
Majhi, who lead a fact-finding team of BJP, said: “The government is misleading the people on the casualty figure. While 14 people have died due to diarrhoea and cholera in Kasipur, the government has put the death toll at nine.”
He demanded the post-mortem report of the remaining five people who too have succumbed to the infection.
The BJP leader said that the water-borne disease has been spreading in the area as people consume contaminated water and unhygienic food in Kashipur block of Rayagada district. The people are deprived of minimum needs because of lack of facilities, he alleged.
The BJP asked the government to prepare a long term plan on how to contain such outbreaks as diarrhoea and cholera have been a regular phenomenon in Kashipur block.
Congress whip Taraprasad Bahinipati also claimed that the diarrhoea has also spread to his native Koraput district and some people of Dasmantpur block have also died in the water-borne disease.
Bahinipati demanded formation of a House Committee to visit the diarrhoea and cholera-infected areas in the southern region of the state.
A lawmaker from Kalahandi district, neighbouring Rayagada also claimed that the disease is also spreading in other districts.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister N K Das outside the Assembly claimed that the disease is well under control after medical teams reached the spot. The people are being supplied with safe drinking water after the detection of cholera in the area.
A report from the tribal-dominated Nuapada district said that diarrhoea has spread to Komna block where one person has died and 20 others are infected with the disease.
Sources said diarrhoea cases were reported from Jatagada village of Komna block. The infected persons have been admitted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). A medical team has also rushed to take stock of the situation, an official said.