Panic struck remote primitive tribal village Sunajhari in Keonjhar district when virtually all the villagers fell ill all of a sudden showing high fever and other symptoms. The villagers suspected it to be curse of an evil spirit or a god. Soon, worshipping and sacrificing of animals to please god continued but it yielded no results till recently a district health team visited the village.
“More than 100 patients were dictated and treated for viral fever and now the situation is under control,” said Banspal CHC in-charge Dr BN Patra. Many patients like Ullas Pradhan, Maheswar Dehury, Ani Sanangi, Rekai Mantri and Sundari Pradhan complained of having problems like dry cough, leg pain, headache and indigestion, besides high fever.
The reasons behind the suddenly illness were not ascertained. Representatives of civil societies like the Progressive Citizens Forum, District Bar Association and Keonjhar Journalists Association visited the village to take stock of the situation and took the matter with the district administration.
“During our visit we found the villagers neglected not only on health front but on education, communication, electricity, drinking water and other developmental measures. Sunajhari villagers still have to walk six km to reach their panchayat headquarters (Kuanr) in Banspal block without proper road.
The village has no electricity, little access to education and safe drinking water is still a day dream for the tribal inhabitants,” said Kendujhar Progressive Citizens Forum president Dhirendra Rout. Meanwhile, district Collector BP Sahoo has instructed the BDO, DSWO and other line department officials to visit the affected village and take necessary steps.