Two women- Runi Majhi and Ranita Patamajhi of Mandipanka village under the Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district- died on Thursday and six others of the village are in critical condition after allegedly consuming mango kernel gruel.
The critical patients are undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Expressing deep grief over the demise of two women, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that the Health Department has initiated an investigation into the incident.
“A team from the Kandhamal District Headquarters Hospital and another local team visited the village to conduct a detailed probe into the incident,” the Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling.
“We are also waiting for the postmortem report for a confirmation on the cause of the deaths,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also expressed concern over the incident.
Notably, consumption of mango kernel brought back the memories of starvation deaths in tribal dominant Rayagada district in the early 2000s.
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