BERHAMPUR: Over 70 per cent villages in Jagannathprasad block, where three persons have died of diarrhoea so far, have no clean drinking water facility. The villagers have no option but to depend on open water sources, which are contaminated, said BJP leaders after a visit to the diarrhoea-affected villages on Tuesday.
A team of BJP leaders, including Surama Padhy, Bhrugu Buxipatra, Bibhuti Jena and Ashok Mishra, visited the affected areas, where more than 200 persons in eight villages are suffering from water-borne disease.
Informing about the pathetic condition of water supply system, Jena said the pond in Kadua village is connected to a drain and people are dependent on the water body for consumption as well as washing. Children are the worst sufferers, Jena said, adding that one of the deceased Rita Naik is survived by two daughters, aged 18 months and seven months.
The BJP has urged the State Government to pay at least ` 5 lakh each as compensation to the families of the deceased, provide safe drinking water to villagers and set the sanitation system in order.
Meanwhile, the disease continued to spread with 18 new patients admitted to Jagannathprasad CHC on Tuesday. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Manoj Behera said despite repeated alerts, the villagers are consuming water without boiling it and using clothes as well as utensils of the patients, which is leading to the spread of the infection.
The CDMO said 11 patients are being treated at Bhanjanagar and 18 at Jagannathprasad hospital while the PHC at Alasu village, which was closed since long, has been reopened. A pharmacist and an Ayush doctor have been posted at Alasu, he added.