Orissa government admits to 26 diarrhoea deaths in Kalahandi

August 31, 2009 06:40 pm | Updated December 17, 2016 03:44 am IST - Bhubaneswar

Rejecting claims about diarrhoea taking epidemic form in Orissa’s Kalahandi district, the State government today rushed teams of doctors to the affected villages where at least 26 people had died of the disease in the past two months.

“While over 100 doctors were already in the field, a team from VSS medical college hospital will soon reach the 50 affected villages,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya told reporters.

He said that 26 people had died of the disease in five gram panchayats under two blocks in Kalahandi.

The State government’s reaction to the situation came a day after local MP and OPCC working president Bhakta Charan Das alleged that at least 38 people had died of diarrhoea.

Holding the State government responsible for the death of poor tribals, Mr. Das pointed out that the disease broke out due to non-availability of safe drinking water in the area.

Mr. Acharya claimed that all 237 patients were admitted to government hospitals.

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