In another Nagada-like village, an unidentified disease has taken lives of as many as 17 people, including five children, during the last 30 days in villages surrounded by waters of the Indravati water reservoir project under Thuamul Rampur block in Kalahandi district.
A state of panic particularly prevails in as many as 16 villages under the Talanagi gram panchayat due to the increasing number of deaths.
According to information, the 17 people, who have died due to the unknown disease, belonged to Bhurubhuri, Temera and Barabadi villages under the Talanagi gram panchayat.
According to locals, the disease attacks people with a fever for a day and then kills the person. As the villages are surrounded by the river and there is only one boat to ferry people from the village to the mainland, it has been difficult for medical teams to reach the people.
Meanwhile, the local BDO along with a medical team has reached the area, sources said. locals have demanded powerboats to be provided immediately and the people of the village provided healthcare facilities to check further casualties.