The incident took place under Kalyansinghpur police limits of the district.
The deceased included Dayanidhi Behera, his wife Laxmi Behera and son Anil. The deceased couple’s severely injured younger son Srikant Behera and his wife Swapna Behera are still battling for life at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Though four days have passed since the incident occurred, the police are unable to ascertain the cause of fire or the circumstances leading to so many deaths and injuries. Also, the police are yet to ascertain if it was a case of mass suicide by the family as part of a pact, or a well planned elimination of the entire family.
Meanwhile, a scientific team visited the house and carried out investigation in the presence of Kalyansinghpur Tehsildar Debasish Kar.
Terming the incident ‘unfortunate’, Kar said, “The investigation is presently underway and the case would be cracked soon.”
Raja Rao Dash, who was among the first responders to the fire said he found the room filled with smoke when he, along with others, rushed hearing the screams of the family members. “By that time, Dayanidhi and his wife had already been charred while their son Anil had suffered around 90 percent burns. Dayanidhi’s younger son and his wife were also present in the house and they had also been severely burnt,” Dash recalled.
Notably, around 5.30 pm on March 17 when Dayanidhi’s neighbours heard frantic screams emanating from the house they immediately came to their rescue. They somehow managed to evacuated the injured from the burning house rushed all of them to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. While undergoing treatment, Dayanidhi, his wife and son succumbed to their injuries.
Besides, 16 villagers received work orders under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana in a programme at Kalyansinghpur. Moreover, 780 beneficiaries were also given old age pension.
“Work order under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and old age pension were distributed to beneficiaries. Emphasis was also laid on finishing the work within deadline,” said Jagannath Saraka, Bissamcuttack MLA.
Among others, Block Chairman Jogendra Wadaka and Block Development Officer Anup Panda were present at the programme.
The expectant mother is now worried as there seems to be no option for her family to rush her to hospital in case of any emergency. Not only Puspalata, the people in five panchayats are now starring at an uncertain future.
According to reports, over 20, 000 residents of five panchayats in Kalyansinghpur block of the tribal dominated Rayagada district have been cut off from rest of the world after a temporary bridge over Kalyani river was washed away by the flash flood on Thursday.
Earlier, the temporary arrangement was made after the main bridge got washed away by incessant rains last year.
In the absence of proper communication links, locals including women and children were forced to cross the river on a bamboo raft thus risking their lives regularly. A report was also telecast by OTV on the plight of people of the region.
However after the reports made headlines in media, the district administration constructed a temporary bridge over the river. But the temporary structure again got washed away during the heavy rains that lashed the area on Thursday.
As a result, people are now forced to rely on a makeshift bamboo structure to cross the river.
"A temporary bridge was constructed on the river with an expenditure of around Rs 5 to 7 lakhs which was functional for three-four months. But without a bridge now, we are facing the same trouble again," informed a resident of Kalyansinghpur, Suban Kumar Garadia.
"The temporary bridge was made of up hume pipes. However, people constructed a bridge made of bamboo after the previous one got washed," said Arjun Kadrika, a resident of Patabandha area.
"I will direct the panchayat officials to submit an estimate for a temporary bridge on the river so that at least two wheeler vehicles can ply on it. However, the tender process for the long-term bridge is over and the construction work will soon start," informed Kalyansinghpur BDO, Anup Panda.
The accused Kuruma Praska has been arrested basing on the complaint filed by the victim's family.
According to reports, Kuruma had stabbed the girl after she rejected his love advances on Thursday. Suspecting her to be dead, the youth later attempted to commit suicide by consuming posion.
"The girl and the youth were earlier in a relationship and it was recently that the girl had stopped talking with the youth. Frustrated over the rejection, the youth attacked the girl with knife and later consumed posion," said Inspector-in-charge of Kalyansinghpur police station, Kapilendra Behera.
Behera further informed that the girl, who has sustained grievous injuries in the attack, has been shifted to Berhampur for treatment.
The accused youth has been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 307 and further investigation in this connection is on, he added.
According to reports, the woman had developed labour pain late on Saturday night and it was only at around 5 am on Sunday that the family members had contacted the ambulance.
However, as no ambulance attached with Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre was available, another vehicle from Kolnara was requisitioned which was nearly 50 kms away from the spot.
By the time ambulance reached the spot, the woman had already delivered a girl child on the roadside with assistance from a local ASHA worker.
"As both the mother and child were shivering, we had to make provisions for fire to protect them from intense cold," said a family member.
Later both the mother and her baby were taken to the Kalyansinghpur CHC and their condition is said to be stable after preliminary treatment.
Bama Sika had to cover a distance of 5 kms on foot to rush his sister Kuni of Parsali panchayat to Kalyansinghpur community health center (CHC) on Saturday.
According to reports, Bama’s sister Kuni of Parsali panchayat had fallen sick while she had gone to harvest crops in the forest. With no other option available at his disposal, Bama carried Kuni in his arms, crossed a river and later managed to seek an auto-rickshaw to shift her to the CHC.
“Only after covering nearly 5 kms on foot, I managed to get an auto-rickshaw to shift my sister to the hospital,” said Bama.
Soumyaranjan Jena, CHC doctor stated that the patient was immediately attended.
“We had conducted malaria test and the patient was diagnosed negative. We have admitted the patient and she is being provided with necessary treatment,” said Jena.
Also Read: Duty First: Odisha doctor turns messiah for woman in remote Malkangiri
According to reports, the ultras set fire to the vehicles protesting the ongoing Melkojoba-Niyamgiri road construction work at Narengtola village.
Also Read: Maoists torch JCB machines protesting illegal sand lifting
The incident has led to panic as the ultras have also left behind posters opposing the road construction work in the region.
“Four to five youth armed with weapons had come and set fire to vehicles. Property to the tune of Rs 1 crore has been damaged,” said Contractor Niranjan Sahu.
https://youtu.be/RLkO_P2jsZs
According to reports, the family members of Sikka Langudi were forced to carry her to the hospital on a sling as ambulance could not reach Kelitipadar village due to absence of proper roads.
Also Read: Patient carried to hospital in sling again in Rayagada
The family members claimed that they had to take Sikka on the sling for almost 10 kms by crossing river and other hilly terrains. Later, Sikka was admitted to hospital after they found an auto-rickshaw at Parsali village.
Though the government had provided a bike ambulance on September 8 after several expecting mothers were seen being carried on cots and slings, it is yet to be utilized for the benefits of the patients.
https://youtu.be/PlnJCpnkDxY
The Tehsildar conducted a probe in the presence of local police, sources said.
The matter came to light when local people detained a goods train that was illegally smuggling sand to Laxmipur. They immediately informed the revenue department after which officials rushed to the spot and found tonnes of sand being transported in three wagons of the goods train.
Also Read: Complaint Registered Against Sambalpur DRM For ‘Casteist Remarks’
After a preliminary probe, administrative sources revealed that the sand was being smuggled to a contractor union in Laxmipur of Koraput district.
Earlier, the Cuttack district administration had also intercepted a goods train at Nergundi station while transporting sand illegally to Uttar Pradesh on September 9.
https://youtu.be/0GYZvkhCXSo
The matter came to light after the Revenue department officials conducted a surprise check at Bhalumaska station and found that tonnes of sand being transported in three wagons of a goods train.
According to reports, the sand was being transported to Laxmipur in Koraput.
A detailed investigation has now started into the incident while the goods train has been detained by the district administration.
Earlier, the Cuttack district administration had also intercepted a goods train at Nergundi station while transporting sand illegally to Uttar Pradesh on September 9.
The incident reported from Singhamuhi village under Karapa Panchayat took place when the woman complained of labour pain yesterday. Soon, an Asha worker reached and asked the family to take her to the hospital.
Driven by superstitious beliefs, the men in the family denied even touching the woman in pain as she was reportedly bleeding profusely.
In absence of network connection even the ambulance could not be contacted to reach the village. After being informed, In-charge doctor of Kalyansinghpur CHC and a team of local journalists reached the village to take stock of the situation.
Seeing the family unmoved despite efforts, the team carried the woman in labour through muddy roads, dense forest and crossed a river in an Amadori (makeshift strethcher) for nearly four kilometers to reach the nearby junction.
OTV reporter Maudi Barik was also seen holding the stretcher.
Also Read: Pregnant woman carried on cot for 1km, makes it to hospital
Later, the local villagers cooperated with the media team and helped them carry the woman further for five kilometers. She was then made to lie inside government MMT vehicle of the CHC and admitted to the Kalyansinghpur Health Centre.
As her condition worsened, she has been shifted to the Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital and is under medical observation, sources said.
“I was returning from Rayagada from a function when I got to know about the incident. Along with a team of reporters, I was able to reach the village. We referred to shift her to the DHH as the woman had been bleeding since six seven hours which reduced her haemoglobin level. We tried to contact 108 ambulance but there was no network in the village. The condition of the woman was serious, and as I'm In-charge of the Medical, I referred to use the government MMT vehicle to take her to the hospital,” said Laxmi Kanth Sahu, In-charge of Kalyansinghpur CHC.
https://youtu.be/PnIZTokb7qs
Communication problems have worsened in the interior areas following floods last month which washed away several bridges and approach roads, affecting the lives of people in Parasali, Sunakhandi, Palma and Kalyansinghpur GPs.
However, the administration is yet to do anything significant even though reports of people including pregnant women crossing the river by means of rafts have been making headlines in the media.
Also Read: Odisha seeks choppers as flash flood situation in Kalyansinghpur remains grim
“We have no other option but to put our lives at stake to cross the river for our daily needs, be it school, market or even office works,” said a resident.
On the other hand, the local administration has promised to ensure safety of people by making necessary arrangements.
“We have already sent a detailed survey report and requisition for necessary funds for construction of an approach road and high-level bridge over the river. Besides, we have also planned for an alternative stone patching on river bed level if necessary,” Rayagada Sub-Collector Prabir Kumar Nayak told OTV.
Rayagada Collector Guha Punam Tapas Kumar informed that after identifying hard-to-reach areas in the district, it has been decided to set up the Maa Gruhas in Badadwara and Parasali.
Earlier, the collector had taken stock of the ground situation in the block after media reported on difficulties of expectant mothers to reach the local hospital.
Mishra’s statements came after a pregnant woman was shifted to a hospital on a ‘bamboo raft’ owing to floods in Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district here on Friday.
The shocking visual of the woman being transported to hospital in such temporary arrangement has sparked widespread resentment over lack of adequate infrastructure in case of emergency situation.
Sources said, locals had made such arrangement to shift the pregnant lady after the bridge had collapsed due to floods.
Also Read:Unhealthy picture: Expectant mother carried across river in bamboo raft
“Healthcare delivery mechanism has gone for a toss in State and the condition particularly in remote and backward areas is in shambles. Government has failed to improve the health sector,” said Mishra.
BJD on the other hand has refuted such allegations leveled by the opposition leader.
“As the bridge had collapsed and with no other option, the woman was carried on a raft to the hospital. The Chief Secretary had reviewed the situation and has sought a detailed report by Monday. Efforts will be taken for restoration of infrastructure damaged by floods,” said BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy.
Official sources said, the gates of the dam would be opened for discharge of flood waters after ceremonial puja at around 10 am, informed chief engineer Harmohan Pradhan.
The administrations in 12 districts – Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Angul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Phulbani, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Puri – would be also be asked to stay alert following the release of flood water.
Also Read: Odisha seeks choppers as flash flood situation in Kalyansinghpur remains grim
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan on Friday informed that various departments including flood hit Kalahandi and Rayagada have been asked to submit a detailed damage assessment report by July 24.
According to reports, over 30,000 people in over 50 villages in Kalyansinghpur block have been affected in the flash floods that occurred on July 16.
Four bridges including a railway bridge and 19 major roads have also been washed away in the floods while restoration work has been undertaken on war footing
The shocking visual of the rescue-cum-alternate arrangement made to rush the woman writhing in labour pain was reported exclusively by OTV on Friday.
According to reports, nearly eight to 10 local youths had volunteered and made such arrangements to shift the pregnant lady to Kalyansinghpur hospital as the road connectivity in the remote area was snapped after a bridge at Purunabhatta had collapsed under the impact of floods in Kalyani river on July 16.
Local residents claimed that with no other option, they had taken up the task to shift the lady to the hospital.
Sneha Mishra, a social activist, on the other hand claimed that such incidents have become commonplace due to the corroding health care facilities in remote areas in the state. The situation worsens during the rainy season as bridges and other temporary roads get washed away, she added.
However, in this particular incident, the role of district administration officials is also under scanner as there is always information about pregnant women in respective areas while the data is being monitored by ASHA workers also.
“In case of floods, adequate measures should have been taken to ensure that pregnant and expecting mothers can be shifted much in advance,” said Mishra.
Earlier, the State government was also targeted over poor health care systems and poor infrastructure in the form of better road connectivity after another pregnant lady had to be carried on stretcher in Kalyansinghpur on July 11.
Also Read: Pregnant women suffer in separate incidents in Odisha due to lack of amenities
Four men had carried the woman on their shoulders for nearly five kilometres after they failed to seek an ambulance.
As there are no pucca roads to Sajja village of Sikarpai block, the woman had to be taken on a stretcher since vehicles cannot ply on the muddy kuccha routes.
Besides what is more serious is that the pregnant woman was carried by the men across the Nagabali river with waist deep water and all the way for five kilometres on the potholed road.
The woman, identified as Rame Padiami of Keriaguda village under Pidia block in the district, was on the way to a nearby hospital in a 108 ambulance after being injured in a wall collapse incident due to the torrential rain. However, the ambulance got stuck near Kankerkonda.
As per the latest report, the ambulance is still unmoved due to overflowing water level.
Meanwhile, three overbridges have been submerged in water on Kalimela-Motu route for up to 70 kms cutting off communication in the region.
Also Read: Flood situation grim in Kalyansighpur; 70 percent areas still marooned
Communication between Nabarangpur and Kalahandi was disrupted as flood water is flowing above an under construction bridge near Dhansuli in Nabarangpur district.
Around 300 families of 20 panchayats under Kalyansinghpur block of Rayagada district were also mostly affected by the deluge. Several roads and bridges crossing across Nagavali river were also damaged in the flood at many places.
Kalyansinghpur/Rayagada: Flood situation in Rayagada district improved slightly as river Kalyani and Nagavali started receding since last night.
Thousands of people were still marooned in several villages. The government started airdropping of food packets to the marooned people at Majhiguda, Kumbharguda, Brahmana Sahi, Kumbharsahi and Sai Nagar. The district administration has also started serving cooked food to the people taking shelter in schools.
“The flood situation in Kalahandi and Rayagada district is improving. Free kitchens have been opened for the affected people in these areas. Airdropping of relief materials have been done in Rayagada district,” CM Naveen Patnaik said.
Rayagada district administration has declared closure of schools and colleges for three days in Kalyansinghpur block in view of flood. Similarly, schools and anganwadi centres were shut in Kalahandi district in view of flood.
Health Minister Pratap Jena reviewed health care system in flood affected areas. “Special medical teams have camped in flood-hit Rayagada district with adequate medicines and vaccination. Director of Health Services is directly supervising the work,” Jena said.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sehty convened a meeting with NDRF, ODRAF and fire services officials.
"Despite intermittent rains, there is a slight improvement in the flood situation in Rayagada and Kalahandi district. Choppers have been engaged to airdrop food packets in marooned villages. Around 3000 relief packets have been distributed. Free kitchen centres- two at Kalyansinghpur and 10 at Rayagada- have been opened to serve cooked food to the victims. Three teams of NDRF and CRPF and two of ODRAF have been mobilised to expedite relief and rescue operations. Rayagada Collector and DIG (south) are monitoring the situation," the SRC said.
He further added that local NGOs and local industries have also joined hands in the relief work. Over 65 people stranded at various places were rescued last night, Sethy added.
Rains triggered by a low pressure over Bay of Bengal since Saturday led to flash floods in Nagavali and Kalyani rivers of Rayagada district affecting about 10,000 people in Kalyansinghpur block and neighbouring blocks in the district.
On the other hand Bansadhara river continued to swell as it crossed the danger mark near Kasinagar in Paralakhemundi today. As many as 21 gates of Gotta barrage on the river have been opened to release excess water, the SRC informed.
State BJP Vice President Sameer Mohanty, in a press meet on Sunday, alleged that absence of any project on prominent five rivers of Odisha - Bansadhara, Nagavali, Jhanjabati, Mahendra Tanaya and Rushikulya - to check such situation paved way for the hazard.
Addressing media persons, Mohanty said, "The Chief Minister who is in charge of the Water Resources Department is only reviewing the situation. Such a situation would have avoided had any projects been constructed on the river."
Mohanty added that the BJP activists of Southern Odisha have been asked to visit the affected areas and extend support to the people.
Incessant rains and an unprecedented rise in the water level of the Nagavali and Kalyani River triggered flash floods in Kalyansingpur block in Rayagada district on Sunday. Twelve villages of Kalyansinghpur and Rayagada are affected due to the flash flood.
Besides rail track in between Therubali and Singapur stations have been washed away by the flood water.
In a similar situation in Kalahandi district, vehicular communication between Junagarh and Dharmagarh, Bhawanipatna, Nabarangpur came to a standstill as water in Hati River has crossed bridge level due to incessant rain in upper catchment and release of surplus water from the Indravati reservoir.
Communication between Gunupur and Thuamul Rampur was severely affected as water crossed the bridge level on Nagabali River.
Met Department has predicted more rain in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur and said it will continue till next three days. Water level in Rushikulya and Bansadhara may rise if rain continues, informed regional Met office and advised fishermen not to venture into sea.
However, the situation is being closely monitored by senior officials and ODRAF, CRPF and fire services units have been rushed in to expedite rescue operations, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Patnaik after reviewing the situation at an emergency meeting held at Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office said that the heavy rains that lashed several parts of Odisha in the past 24 hours triggered flash floods in Nagavali and Kalyani rivers.
The district has received nearly 189.88 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
Due to the flash floods in both the rivers, over 70 percent area of Kalyansinghpur has been submerged in floodwaters while Rayagada collector has been asked to supervise the relief and rescue operation.
Also Read: Heavy Rain Triggers Flash Floods In Kalyansinghpur
The choppers of the Indian Air Force will be used to intensify rescue and relief operation in Kalyansinghpur block where people are trapped on roof tops as their houses had been submerged by the flood water of both the rivers.
According to official sources, at least 14 persons who were either trapped or stranded on rooftops were rescued by teams today.
“State control room in SRC office is tracking the situation closely while Indian Army representatives and Indian Air Force Helicopter is being mobilized and district collector is in charge of the situation,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik further informed that no effort will be spared to ensure safety of people.
SRC Bishnupad Sethi informed that keeping in view the met department forecast of heavy rainfall in Southern Odisha, we had already alerted administrative officials in advance.
Also Read: Heavy Rainfall Forecast For Odisha, Collectors Asked To Remain Alert: SRC
Due to flash floods in two rivers in Rayagada district, several areas have been cut-off and people taken shelter on rooftops as per the preliminary reports received this morning.
“Two bridges have been washed away leading to disruption of communication. Hence, we have requested for deployment of four helicopters of Indian Air Force for air dropping of relief materials in the district,” said Sethi.
The SRC office further informed 12 villages of Kalyansinghpur and Rayagada are affected due to the flash flood. Besides rail track in between Therubali and Singapur stations is washed away by the flood water.
Around 2,000 food packets have been kept ready for airdrop in flood-hit areas. Apart from this, cooked food has been provided to 1,300 affected people, the SRC office stated adding that the Rayagada Collector has been directed to provide cooked food for next seven days to the flood-victims.
The SRC office also asked the NDRF Commandant to provide three units to help in the rescue and relief operations.
Keeping in view the flood situation, Odisha government has ordered for closure of all schools for the next three to four days while hostels of residential and ashram schools would remain open for students staying there.
Sources said water level of Nagavali river which caused havoc in the district after incessant rainfall is declining gradually.
As both the rivers are now in spate, it has created problems in the discharge of rain water. As a result, flood water has entered several parts of the block which has now been inundated.
As per reports, nearly 5,000 to 7,000 people have been affected by the flash floods as several parts are now submerged.
As many houses have been inundated, people have taken shelter on roof of their houses and tehsil office.
Road communication between Rayagada and Bhawanipatna has been disrupted as flood water is now flowing on the major road in the area which is now completely cut-off.
Official sources said that already a team of CRPF jawans have reached Kalyansinghpur to carry out relief and rescue operations.
However, no action has been taken against the families of both bride and groom as they have agreed to solemnise the wedding after the girl attains the right age limit.
According to report, one Niranjan Naik of Kupakhal village under Kasipur block in the district was betrothed to the minor girl of Rekhaliguda by his parents. After the engagement on Sunday, both the families were preparing for marriage today.
On a tip-off, the administrative officials reached the house of bride and verified age certificate. They foiled the marriage and persuaded the parents to get their daughter married after attainment of 18 years.
A native of Adubuda village under Kalyansinghpur block of the district, Pradeep has not only cracked the test with 3rd rank but also topped in the category of differently-abled tribal students in India by securing 144 marks in the entrance exam.
Aspiring to be an IAS officer, this tribal boy wants to pursue higher studies in an IIT Institute.
He has completed his 10th from Bisamcuttack Navodaya Vidyalaya and Plus Two in Science stream from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Kottayam, Kerala.
"We are very happy and overwhelmed with the achievement of our son," expressed Pradeep's parents, Salupu and Kante Himirika.
However, owing to financial problems Pradeep's father Salupu has urged the government authorities to grant him financial assistance for higher studies.
According to sources, three minor boys were in a mango grove in the village collecting mangoes when lightning struck them after a thunderstorm. While one among them died, two others were seriously hurt.
The deceased minor has been identified as Muna Kadraka.
Two such hand written materials in the name of Odisha State Committee of CPI (Maoist) were found stuck on a tree at Sikarpai here in Rayagada district. One of the posters read "Oppose Modi's visit to Odisha on April 14,15 and his Land Acquisition Act". It also appealed to the people to oust Vedanta and save Niyamgiri hills.
Another poster threatened the security forces against combing operations in the Maoist infested forests. The ultras also alleged Rayagada SP lured the tribal youths with money to become police informers and asked him to refrain from such activities."Rayagada SP should stop instigating tribal youths to become police informers", the poster mentioned.
On March 31, suspected rebels had triggered a blast and ransacked Doikalu station. The posters they left behind besides protesting Modi's visit, had also criticised non-Odia officers being appointed to senior posts in the state police as well as administration.
The posters and banners mentioning the names of CPI (M) secretaries Das Brahma and Umakanta Mishra were found at various places in the area.
With the panchayat polls scheduled to kick off from February 13, people in Kalyansighnpur area in the district are in a state of panic, reports said
According to sources, the incident took place at around 8 am today, while the ill-fated bus was on its way to Kashipur from Cuttack.
The bus lost control and fell off a bridge in which 15 persons sustained injuries, sources added.
Also read: Tourist bus falls off Dhauli, 36 injured
The injured persons have been admitted to hospital. Out of the 15 injured, condition of five is stated to critical.
Sources said, family members of a pregnant lady in Ghagudimal village under Kalyansinghpur block called up a 102 ambulance as she started experiencing labour pain in the morning. But as it didn’t turn up, they arranged a cot to carry the lady to the Kalyansinghpur hospital.
After travelling for about two kilometres, the ambulance reached. But by then her condition had started deteriorating.
She delivered the baby at the hospital. But soon after the birth the infant died due to poor health of the woman. Doctors treating the lady referred her to Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) where she breathed her last.
When asked, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of the district refused to comment on the matter.
According to sources, the deceased have been identified as Anganwadi worker of Belakana village Utkala Shukla and her daughters Pinki (aged 38) and Rinki (aged 26).
Sources said that the locals informed the police after observing no activity and movement of people inside the house.
Meanwhile, the Anganwadi workers association alleged that the woman along with her daughters committed suicide after being troubled by ward member and helper.
The association members also staged a road blocakade demanding action against the culprits.
They had a discussion with inhabitants of Dantalinga village of the region and collected stool samples from diarrhoea affected persons in the block. The team members spoke to the family members and relatives of the deceased.
“The cases are not new in the area. It had happened in Kashipur region in 2007. Kalyansinghpur and Mohana were the most affected areas when the epidemic had spread in 2010. The root cause of spread of the disease is unavailability of potable water,” RMRC team leader BB Palo said. ”Non-maintenance of hygienic condition by families is also an issue there as it spreads fast from human contact,” he stated.
Meanwhile the State government has opened a temporary medical camp there to check the spread of the disease.
“The health camp started from 21st July. So far 490 patients have registered with us. When we come across serious patients we are sending them to community health centres,” Dr Purnachandra Jampua said.
In the last 10 days, three diarrhoea deaths have been reported in Pidua village of the block.
Despite the claims of district health department of taking precautionary measures to contain the disease, diarrhoea has spread to the villages of Polama, Kalyansingpur, Dhamanpanga, Singari and Budaguda of the block.
The Bandh has been called by Maoists belonging to Bansadhara-Ghumusar- Nagabali division of CPI (Maoist) in Kalyansinghpur, Muniguda and Bisssamcuttack blocks of Rayagada district along with Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi.
Normal was thrown out of gear in with shops and establishments remaining shut across the five blocks.
Notably, in February, a tribal youth was killed in firing involving police. Later, the SP, in a press briefing, had informed that the deceased was a Maoist. The deceased was identified as Mondo Kadraka. Claiming that the police have killed a Dangaria Kandh tribal youth in cold blood and sought to pass it off as an encounter with the Maoists in Rayagada district, the family members of the deceased had earlier demanded stern action against the errant cops.
A village woman with labour pain was reportedly carried on a charpoy to the hospital as the ambulance failed to reach her home in time in Kalyansinghpur of Rayagada district, prompting the authorities to order a probe into the episode today.
Her family members said they were forced to carry her in a 'charpoy' after waiting for the ambulance for a long time.
Rayagada district Collector Jagannath Mohanty said by the time the lone ambulance available at the health centre reached the village, the patient had been taken to the hospital.
Stating that steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents, he said he has directed the sub-collector to probe into the incident and submit a report.
The woman appears to be anaemic and may be shifted to Rayagada hospital, he said.
In one glaring example, a patient had to be carried in a sling for nearly 8 kms before he was shifted to the nearest hospital. The incident has been reported from Paramali village under Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district.
According to reports, the family members of Phuluka Sikaka had to shift him to the Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre in a sling after his condition deteriorated.
Sikaka was not keeping well for the past few days and his hands and legs developed swelling yesterday. Though the family members called up an ambulance, no emergency vehicle was available in the region.
With no other option, the family decided to carry Sikaka in a sling to the hospital.
Sources said that the only 102 ambulance is out of order and is lying defunct since last two months.
Not only Sikaka, several other people, mostly pregnant women, continue to suffer either due to absence of proper road connectivity or lack of ambulances in different parts of the State.
The sorry spectacle of the poor tribal woman in Kalyansinghpur area of Rayagada district delivering inside a Tata Magic while on her way to the hospital puts the spotlight back on the rickety state of our health care services, especially in the remote, tribal areas of the state. It also reminds us that the much vaunted 102 and 108 ambulance services that were conceived to avoid precisely this kind of a situation have failed the people they were meant for in the first place. They have invariably failed to arrive when they are needed the most.
The woman in Kalyansinghpur is, in a sense, lucky that she did get an alternative vehicle and managed to reach the hospital to ensure that both she and her new born baby survived. But not everyone is so lucky. Many die on the way while others deliver still born babies because they are unable to reach hospital in time.
There are myriad reasons why ambulances don’t reach the needy in time. At most places in interior Odisha, there are too few 108/102 ambulances catering to too many people. As a result, some are bound to miss out on this service. Then there are problems of terrain. Often, the person requisitioning the service lives in too remote an area for the ambulance to reach. Then there are other reasons like a snag in the vehicle, lack of fuel, mobile phones not working, the reluctance of drivers to fetch people at unearthly hours and so on. But not all of these reasons can explain away the spectre of death and disease that stalks these areas in the hinterland.
The sight of Dana Majhi carrying the body of his dead wife on his shoulders seared the conscience of the nation and even the world. It brought heaps of opprobrium for the state government, including a missive from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking an explanation in the matter. But did it prick the conscience of the state government? On the basis of the evidence available so far, the answer has to be an emphatic ‘No’. Far from admitting its failure in providing succour to Dana, the state government has strained every sinew to paint the poor tribal from Melghar village in Kalahandi district as the villain of the piece. “You see, he didn’t inform anyone in the hospital before taking away the body of his wife. So what on earth could we have done?” is the official explanation, which has since been exposed by Dana’s teenage daughter for what it is: a white lie.
Let us, for a moment, discount Dana’s claim that the collector asked him if he had killed his wife because he could have been ‘tutored’ by the leaders of opposition parties, who have descended on his nondescript village like vultures do at the sight of a corpse. But what about the fact that an utterly heartless district administration ‘summoned’ him to do the rounds of various government offices in Rayagada and answer a volley of questions from officials (so that he could get a princely sum of Rs 5, 000 as assistance!) on a day he was preparing to complete the last rites of his departed wife?
It is this lack of empathy that is at the root of almost all problems that bedevil our countryside. After all, if the OTV reporter could arrange a vehicle to carry Dana, his daughter and the body of his dear wife through his efforts, was it such a Herculean task for the district administration – with all the resources at its command – to arrange for a vehicle for Dana?
The fact is no one really cares. Not the man or woman tasked with taking government services to the last mile. Not the district administration that is expected to come to the rescue of people in such situations. And certainly not the government busy drawing up plans to make Odisha the land of milk and honey with the Rs 90, 000 crore ‘Biz Bonanza’ promised at the Investors’ Meet at Bengaluru.
Till this apathy continues, expectant mothers will continue to die on their way to hospital (or deliver on the way), poor men would continue to carry their dead on bicycles, trolley rickshaws or their shoulders and tribals in Kashipur will continue to die after consuming mango kernel gone poisonous.
Around 30 people including Dhanphul reportedly fell sick after they consumed liquor and developed symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and swelling in abdomen.
"He (Dhanphul Hoika) returned home after taking liquor in Kataguda. He complained of illness and stomach ache before dying at 1.30 PM yesterday," informed Dhanphul's relative.
All the sick persons were rushed to Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre for treatment. Two of them were later shifted to Rayagada Hospital after their condition deteriorated further.
Taking a serious note of the incident, Rayagada district collector Pramod Behera ordered a probe into the matter.
The concerned Health and Excise officials including Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) visited Kalyansinghpur hospital to inquire about the health condition of the sick. Besides, they conducted a raid in Kataguda .
While the locals held the Excise department responsible for the liquor tragedy, the Excise officials claimed that the incident took place due to food poisoning. "They did not consume the wine from any of the licensed liquor units. They drank country-made wine and fell sick due to food poising," informed Dilip Gauda, Excise official, Rayagada.
According to sources, Kointa Majhi of Godibali village developed labour pain on late Sunday night following which family members called up '102' ambulance services.
The emergency vehicle failed to enter the village in absence of motorable road. The driver parked the vehicle at a place 4 km away from the patient's village and walked alone in deep dark to reach her.
Some women, ASHA helped the Ambulance driver carrying the woman in a sling and covered a distance of four kilometres to get Ambulance.
The scene turned more pathetic when they covered the entire stretch of hilly terrain amid deep darkness with the help of mobile torch.
Later, the ambulance took her to a Primary Health Centre at Mandibishi under the same block, which is 15 km away from the village.
The woman delivered a baby son on Monday morning. Doctors said that both mother and the newborn are doing well in the hospital. They will soon be discharged, they added.
The instance of such cases is not new to the State as similar incidents continue to grab headlines at regular interval.
Last week, a man suffering from diarhhea had been carried on a bullock cart for five km to the ambulance as the vehicle could not reach the village due to lack of pucca road in Chandahandi block of Nabarangpur district.
The government had launched the '102' ambulance services exclusively for pregnant woman with much fanfare. But, it is evident from such kind of incidents that the delivery mechanism is still to take shape.