MALKANGIRI (ODISHA): A 35-year-old man whose two-year-old daughter had died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) on Sunday lost his second child on Tuesday. Sudarsan Padiami, a resident of Daniguda near here, had lost his younger daughter Sushila on Sunday. His four-year-old son Ramesh Padiami succumbed to the disease at Malkangiri district headquarters hospital (DHH) this morning.
Besides Ramesh, the disease claimed lives of two more children in the district on Tuesday. The two other deceased were identified as Rasi Madhi of Korkonda and Ramesh Pujari of Mathili in the district. All of them succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at district headquarters hospital (DHH). What is quite shocking is that Sudarsan’s only surviving child – seven-year-old daughter Shanti – is also currently down with fever. It’s not immediately known if she is suffering from JE or any other influenza.
“Shanti, the seven-year-old daughter of Sudarsan is now down with fever. She was also admitted to DHH. Today, her parents brought her home to take part in the last rites of her brother,” said health worker Nirupama Parida. Nirupama informed that Shanti’s blood sample had been sent for examination. Sudarsan, who is under serious mental trauma following loss of his two children, has lost his consciousness since Tuesday morning is currently under treatment.
In another development, a Class IV student of Palkonda on Monday wrote an emotional letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to save children of Malkangiri. In the letter, Umesh said, “Dear Prime Minister, eight of my village friends with whom I used to play have died in the last two months. Please save us from the rapidly spreading JE that has claimed many more lives in our district. If possible, please visit our district for better understanding of the situation,” Umesh wrote to the PM.
