A total of 24 persons have died due to jaundice and 2,808 afflicted by this water-borne disease in Sambalpur town and its adjoining places in recent days, said the government affidavits filed in Orissa High Court on Wednesday.
In response to an earlier High Court notice, the State Public Health Department, Sambalpur district administration and the local civic body filed separate affidavits. The notices were issued to the respondents on a PIL filed by a Sambalpur-based social activist Shyamakanta Bisi, who is seeking adequate compensation to the victims’ kin and a direction to the government to take measures to check the spread of the disease.
When the petitioner’s advocate Bijay Kumar Ragad sought time to file rejoinders to the counter affidavits, the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Amitava Roy posted the matter to be heard again after two weeks.
All the three respondents in their affidavits claimed that the State Government has taken adequate measures to check the spread of the disease and jaundice in Sambalpur district is now under control and has not spread to any new areas in recent days.
