136 diarrhoea deaths recorded in Orissa in eight months

BHUBANESWAR - Diarrhoea has killed at least 136 people in Orissa since January, a health official said Thursday.

Around 34 people died in the district of Rayagada and 27 died in its neighbouring Nuapada district, the official said, adding that most of these deaths took place in August.

Similarly, ten people each died in Nabrangpur and Keonjhar districts, nine in Ganjam, eight in Malkangiri and four in Kalahandi, he said.

“The deaths took place mostly due to unhygienic living conditions and consumption of contaminated water as people draw water from streams and nallas for drinking though there are tubewells,” he said.

Rayagada District Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale said around 60 diarrhoea patients are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of the district.

“Medical teams are camping in all vulnerable areas. There has been no death reported since past four-five days from any part of the district,” he told IANS.