Jajpur, June 19: Despite sustained preventive measures, diarrhoea outbreak continues to trouble parts of Odisha, especially the districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Cuttack. Health officials and state authorities are intensifying their efforts, with joint teams from the Centre and State Health Department touring the affected areas to assess the ground reality.

Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Surya Banshi Suraj visited various healthcare facilities in Jajpur and reviewed response strategies. He engaged directly with medical teams and patients, emphasizing cleanliness and accountability. A Quick Action Team has been ordered by the Jajpur Collector to ensure swift corrective steps, including quality checks on bottled water and purification pouches.

While Health Minister reports suggest that the overall situation is under control, concerns remain. In the last 24 hours alone, Jajpur registered 30 new infections, raising the number of patients under treatment to 158. Bhadrak currently has 74 active cases.

Given the surge, schools in Jajpur and Bhadrak have postponed reopening. Instead of June 20, they will now resume on June 25 and June 23, respectively. Meanwhile, schools in other parts of the state are scheduled to reopen as planned, unless district-level reviews dictate otherwise. Schools have been directed to provide boiled drinking water to students.

The High Court has raised concerns over sanitation in Cuttack city, especially regarding drainage maintenance and waterlogging. It has instructed the district health authorities and Cuttack Municipal Corporation to ensure a hygienic environment and asked WATCO to provide clean drinking water. A compliance affidavit has also been requested by the court.

The government remains vigilant and committed to halting the spread before it escalates further.

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