Bhubaneswar, June 15: Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik has raised alarm over the escalating cholera outbreak in Odisha, criticizing the state government's response as inadequate and indifferent.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Patnaik said, “Cholera has put people's lives at risk. What had not been seen for many years has now disrupted public life in various districts.”
He highlighted that districts including Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Puri, Cuttack, and Keonjhar are witnessing the outbreak in a severe form, with the disease beginning to spread to other areas as well.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Patnaik said, “The loss of 14 lives to cholera so far has deeply saddened me. I express my condolences to their families and loved ones.”
He strongly criticized the state government for what he described as a “casual approach” in the face of a growing public health emergency. “While cholera is spreading in Odisha, the state government's casual approach to it is shocking and disturbing to everyone,” he stated.
Calling for immediate action, Patnaik urged the government to act with urgency and accountability.
“The government must act vigilantly without pushing people's lives into further danger and take immediate strong measures to curb the spread of cholera,” he said.
