Youth dies after ‘forced Filaria medication’ in Odisha, family blames health workers

A 24-year-old youth from Biramaharajpur in Odisha’s Subarnapur district allegedly died on Thursday after consuming filaria medicine. His grieving family has staged a road blockade demanding adequate compensation, claiming the youth was forced to take the medicine by local health workers, leading to his untimely death.

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According to sources, tension escalated at Kanpur Chhak on Biramaharajpur-Sonepur road of Subarnapur as the family of deceased Hamit Rana claims that his death was caused by consuming filaria medication distributed by ASHA Didi and Anganwadi workers.

On August 12, village health workers allegedly compelled the residents to consume the medicine and threatened to revoke Aadhaar card, ration card, and other welfare benefits of the government, such as Subhadra Yojana, if they refused, the bereaved family alleged.

Under this pressure, 10 members of Hamit's family allegedly took the medicine. Soon after taking medicine, Hamit began showing severe health complications. The youth was initially treated in critical condition in a health facility at Biramaharajpur, then shifted to a hospital in Sonepur and finally to Burla VIMSAR hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

The situation worsened when Hamit's niece and elder brother, Mahendra, also showed signs of illness. The girl was initially admitted to Biramaharajpur health facility and later on was shifted to Sonepur hospital, while Mahendra started experiencing health issues.

Outraged by the fatal incident, Hamit’s family kept his body on the road at Kanpur Chhak, blocking Birmaharajpur-Sonepur state highway (SH), demanding government compensation and accountability.

A local police team, along with the tehsildar, reached the agitation site and held discussions with the protestors. However, no comments were received from the authorities in this regard.

“ASHA Didi and Anganwadi Didi came to us on August 12 and compelled us to take Filaria medicine. Our Aadhaar card, ration card etc will be withdrawn in case we do not do so, they warned us. Hence, we had to take the medicine and, firstly, it started showing side effects in my brother. I am also feeling uneasy due to the medicine reaction,” Mahendra stated.