2 days ago
Cholera outbreak casts shadow over Raja festivities in Jajpur
Kendrapada: The vibrant colours and joyful customs of the three-day Raja festival have dimmed in Jajpur district, where a cholera outbreak has claimed 11 lives and sparked widespread fear among residents.
Health officials confirmed the presence of cholera bacteria in stool samples from eight patients, prompting the administration to advise against traditional community feasts—normally a highlight of the festival season—to prevent further spread of the water-borne disease.
"We have urged people to exercise caution during the celebrations," said Jajpur collector P Anvesha Reddy. The advisory comes amid a growing health crisis in villages like Tarailo, Kalapada, and Nanpur, where residents are now prioritising access to safe drinking water over ritual observances.
"This is a time of struggle for survival, not celebration," said Mohan Prusti, 42, of Tarailo village, where three people have recently died of diarrhoea. Rajani Behera of Kalapada said, "The govt's failure to control these deadly diseases has cast a shadow over our celebrations." Others, like Manasi Das of Nanpur, blamed the administration's "ineffective response" for the crisis. The death of 26-year-old Dilip Kumar Mallick at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has further deepened public anxiety
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