Bhubaneswar, Dec 20: Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday wrote a letter to his Cabinet colleague Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya expressing deep concerns about the increasing number of deaths of people due to the outbreak of diarrhoea in Odisha's Rourkela and nearby areas, and sought the Centre’s intervention to control and prevent the infection in the affected area.

In his letter to Mandaviya, Pradhan said, "The severity of the outbreak of diarrhoea in Rourkela and the potential risk it poses to public health is alarming. At least eight deaths reported and over 600 individuals currently undergoing treatment. The disease is suspected to be caused by water contamination, leading to severe health complications among the affected populace."

"Keeping in mind the welfare of the people of Rourkela and nearby areas, I seek your personal intervention in immediate facilitation of central assistance to Rourkela and other affected areas in Odisha, for controlling and addressing the outbreak," he added.

In a tweet, formerly known as Twitter, Minister Pradhan expressed grief over loss of lives due to diarrhoea in Rourkela city and surrounding areas for the past few days. He also expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the speedy recovery of those undergoing treatment.

ରାଉରକେଲା ସହର ସହିତ ଆଖପାଖ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଗତ କିଛି ଦିନ ହେବ ଡାଇରିଆ ଲାଗି ରହିଥିବା କାରଣରୁ ଲୋକମାନେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁବରଣ କରିଥିବା ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଆକ୍ରାନ୍ତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁ ଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି । ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ ହେଉଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇ ଘରକୁ ଫେରନ୍ତୁ, ଏହା ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 20, 2023

In metropolitan areas like Rourkela, hundreds of people are affected by diarrheal infections and the administration is worrisome. The State government should immediately take this sensitive issue seriously and take necessary steps to provide better healthcare to the patients, Pradhan said.

The Union Minister urged the State government to conduct door-to-door health screening in infected areas. He also requested the State government to collaborate with central agencies and take immediate steps to provide necessary assistance and support to the citizens in the affected area.

Read: Odisha News

So far, at least eight people have died and more than 600 persons have been admitted to various hospitals in Rourkela due to the outbreak of diarrhoea in the Steel city in the last few days.

The disease has spread mostly in the slum areas and nearby areas to Rourkela including Chhend, Tarkera, Panposh, Nalla Road, Plant Site, Labour Tenement and Birjapalli, sources said.

Argus English | argus english | Odisha Latest News, Breaking News, Trending News, Live TV