Odisha Health dept warns of post-flood water-borne diseases, deploys medical teams

With the flood water already beginning to recede in most parts of Odisha, water-borne diseases have begun to knock on the doors of people in flood-hit areas forcing the Health Department to issue caution.

The Health Department has cautioned people to maintain hygiene in their homes and nearby areas so that there is not an outbreak of any disease.

Speaking about the post-flood arrangements, Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra said, “48 medical relief camps have been set up. 29 teams have been deployed across the flood-affected areas. More than 11,000 ORS sachets and 28,000 halogen tablets have been distributed.”

We have treated 36 diarrhoea cases in the flood-hit areas, but thankfully no one was hospitalised. It is a standard practice to purify the drinking water sources after the flood water recedes. We have been making the people aware to maintain personal hygiene,” he added.

Meanwhile, there has been a considerable improvement in the overall flood situation in Mahanadi, Baitarani, and Brahmani river systems in Odisha, said the Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty on Monday.

According to Mohanty, there is no need to panic as there is only a base flow of around 4.5 lakh cusecs at Mundali. Similarly, there is not much inflow of floodwater from the upper catchment areas of Hirakud reservoir. The water level of Hirakud stood at 620 ft by 9 am today.