Despite the tall claims of the State Government of taking proactive measures to tackle the deadly Japanese Encephalitis (JE) menace, the death toll in the vector-borne disease continued to be unabated in Malkangiri district with the death of three more children on Friday.
With the fresh deaths, the toll reached 104 in the tribals-dominated district.
The day’s deceased were identified as Nilu Kumar Halua of Dangaguda village under Korukonda block, Priti Sodi of Turlukonda village under the same block and Surendra Madhi of Dariguda village.
All of them succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
Meanwhile, a three-year-old girl child reportedly died of the Japanese Encephalitis during treatment at the Koraput DHH. The deceased was identified as Barsa Pangi from Chaulagandi village in Malkangiri district.
Sources said Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would visit Malkangiri on November 14 to take stock of the JE situation. He is scheduled to reach Malkangiri directly from New Delhi.
Pradhan was earlier scheduled to visit Malkangiri on November 4, but it was cancelled by the district administration due to security reasons as Maoists had given a bandh call in five States, including Odisha, during that period.