The industrial town of Byasnagar and the surrounding areas in Jajpur district, Odisha, are reeling under a severe diarrhoea outbreak that has claimed two lives and affected over 500 people.
The crisis, which has overwhelmed local healthcare facilities, is primarily attributed to food poisoning and contaminated drinking water, exacerbated by changing weather conditions with the onset of the monsoon season.
On Tuesday evening, two individuals succumbed to the illness while undergoing treatment. Tula Ram Sharma (60), a resident of Ward No. 20 in Byasnagar municipality, passed away at the Jajpur Road Community Health Centre. Another victim, Sanatan Patra from Sunaposhi village in Mayurbhanj district, died at the Danagadi health centre. Nine patients in critical condition were transferred, with five shifted to Jajpur town and four to Cuttack for advanced treatment.
The outbreak has spread across four blocks—Korei, Dharmasala, Rasulpur, and Byasnagar municipality—with Byasnagar reporting the highest number of cases at 60, followed by seven in Korei. Local reports indicate that around 40 patients are currently admitted to Dharmasala Medical Centre, where allegations of inadequate treatment facilities have surfaced, with some patients forced to receive care on the floor due to a lack of beds.
Among the affected are prominent figures, including Byasnagar municipality chairperson Subash Chandra Bal, councillor Rakesh Rout, and former councillor Anup Nayak, who were treated at the Jajpur Road CHC. While Subash Chandra Bal has recovered and returned home, several others remain in critical condition, prompting their transfer to Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital and SCB Medical College in Cuttack.
The State Health Director has confirmed food poisoning as a primary cause, with a special medical team from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack dispatched to the affected areas. Jajpur’s Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Prakash Chandra Bal, visited Dharmasala Hospital and assured improved treatment measures. He attributed the outbreak to sudden climatic changes and a contaminated water supply, urging immediate action to address the crisis.
Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak visited patients to assess their condition, expressing concern over the rising cases.
Despite efforts, the exact source of the outbreak remains unclear, though authorities suspect an unhygienic water supply and monsoon-related environmental changes as key contributors.
A specialised medical team has been deployed to contain the spread, but with cases rising across the district, urgent measures are needed to prevent further casualties.
