The Odisha State Human Rights Commission (OSHRC), basing on a petition of Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain, has directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to inquire into the suffering of villagers of Karadagadia in Angul district from an unknown disease and to submit an action-taken report (ATR).
Swain in her petition has alleged that the villagers of Karadagadia in the have been suffering from unknown disease as a result of which they are unable to walk and their bones have become deformed.
She further alleged that the district medical authorities as well as the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack could not be able to detect the disease and proper treatment has not yet been provided to the patients.
The petitioner had also prayed for compensation, free treatment to the patients and for taking step to stop the spreading of the disease. The OSHRC after hearing directed the Health and Family Welfare Department Secretary to inquire into the matter and submit an action taken report within four weeks.