A total of 24 persons have died due to jaundice and 2,808 persons were afflicted with this water-borne disease in Sambalpur city and its adjoining places in recent days, said Government affidavits filed in the Odisha High Court on Wednesday.In response to earlier High Court notices, the State Public Health Department (PHD), the Sambalpur district administration and the local civic body filed their separate affidavits.
The notices were issued to the respondents on a PIl filed by Sambalpur-based social activist Shyamakanta Bisi, who is seeking adequate compensation to the victims’ kin and a direction to the Government to take measures to check the spread of the disease.When the petitioner’s advocate Bijay Kumar Ragad sought time to file rejoinders to the Government affidavits, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Amitava Roy posted the matter to be heard again after two weeks.
All the three respondents in their affidavits claimed that the State Government has taken adequate measures to check the spread of the disease, which is now under control in Sambalpur district and has not spread to any other areas in recent days.