TV
In response to rising public health concerns, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Food Safety Department on Monday launched a coordinated crackdown on food stalls, hotels, and eateries in the city.
Sources reported that a team of officials carried out surprise inspections near SUM Hospital, targeting roadside vendors, fruit sellers, and small restaurants. During the raids, stale fish, expired bread, and discoloured food items were seized and destroyed on the spot.
Further, a hotel was fined Rs 3,000 for storing and preparing stale fish, and several vendors were warned or penalised for operating in unhygienic conditions.
Notably, the move follows isolated diarrhoea outbreaks reported in Niladri Vihar and an apartment near Ghatikia, raising fears of a larger contamination issue.
Water Safety, Food Quality Under Scanner
Ground reports also stated that samples of drinking water and raw food materials were being collected for laboratory testing. Authorities said that further checks will be extended to high-footfall areas, including the Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Biju Patnaik International Airport, and major tourist hotspots.
The raids are part of a broader preventive effort to curb the spread of monsoon-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.
Officials emphasised the need for public awareness and hygiene, urging residents to be cautious about where and what they eat, especially during the ongoing Raja festival, when community dining and feasting are common.
“We regularly carry out such raids to ensure public health safety in Bhubaneswar. The food preparation conditions of eateries and roadside stalls are being assessed. Expired food products are also being seized and destroyed. The aim of this drive is to spread awareness regarding hygienic food preparation and consuming practices among hotels as well as the general public,” said a BMC official.
State on Edge as Cholera Spreads Beyond Jajpur
The latest action in Bhubaneswar comes amid a widening cholera outbreak across Odisha, with Jajpur district still the worst affected. The death toll there has reached seven, with over 1,500 cases reported so far. Further, cases have now also spread to Bhadrak, Cuttack, Keonjhar, and Dhenkanal, sparking a statewide health alert.
