Even as the death toll due to Japanese Encephalitis mounted to 52 with two fresh deaths reported at the Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Friday, a police complaint was filed against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several other Ministers for their alleged negligence in tackling the disease in Malkangiri.
Jayanti Madkami of Katangapallu village under Padia block in the district diedon Friday at the DHH. On Thursday, Rebika (7), elder sister of Jayanati, had also succumbed to the vector-borne disease. With the fresh death, the toll mounted to 52 in 36 days. Another 2-year-old baby of Simbhabharam in Kalimela area also succumbed to the disease in the evening.
One Ure Madi of Koimetla village in the tribals-dominated district, who has lost her child in the deadly disease, filed the complaint at the Malkangiri police station against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Ministers of Health, Women and Child Development, ST and SC Development and Rural Welfare and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Secretary.
In the complaint, Madi has held them responsible for her child’s death.
Madi was accompanied to the police station by PCC president Prasad Harichandan and former Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi.
Sources said 10 more women who have lost their children in the disease would too file FIRs against the CM and others.
Earlier in the day, Harichandan went to the DHH and met 33 Japanese Encephalitis-affected children there.
Malkangiri police station officer Raj Kishore Dash said he was examining Madi’s FIR.
“One Ure Madi lodged complaint alleging negligence leading to the death of her baby. We have received the FIR and action would be taken on it accordingly,” said the cop.