CUTTACK: Twentyfour people have died due to jaundice and more than 2,000 persons were affected by the disease in Sambalpur town and its adjoining places recently, government affidavits filed in Orissa High Court today said.
In response to an earlier High Court notice, the state's Public Health department (PHD), Sambalpur district administration and local civic body filed their separate affidavits.
The notices were issued to the respondents on a PIL filed by a Sambalpur-based social activist Shyamakanta Bisi, who is seeking adequate compensation to the victims' kin and a direction to the government to take measures to check the spread of the disease.
When the petitioner's advocate Bijay Kumar Ragad sought time to file rejoinders to the counter affidavits, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Amitava Roy posted the matter to be heard again after two weeks.