Collector Rayagada, along with BDO and Tahsildar Kolnora and with officials of Excise dept, visied the cluster of villages from where cases of severe illness and deaths due to consumption of contaminated Salapa were reported. The villages are Kumbhaiguda, Rodangi, Bada Khilapadar, Gundumai.
Earlier in the day, Sri. Soumendra Priyadarshi, IPS, DIG SWR also visited the area and assessed the situation in the villages showing cases of such severe illness. He also visited the patients in DHH Rayagada and interacted with them and their relatives.
Collector Rayagada visited the bereaved families and ensured them all the required support from the district administration. The BDO Kolnora has been instructed to extend benifit under National Family Benefit Scheme and to refer the case to Sub Collector Rayagada for widow pension.
After local inquiry with the relatives of the deceased and the villagers in the locality including public representatives and SHGs, it has been seen that the incident has been due to consumption of Salapa, a toddy like liquid. The excise squads have taken some samples of the Salapa pots tied to the Salapa tree, wherein it was founds that it contained roots of some trees, locally called as Chera, which is used to ferment the Salapa, in Sunlight. This Chera at times becomes contaminant and results in food poisoning. There has been so far no indication towards any illegal distillation or circulation of spurious liquor in the locality in this matter. However Collector Rayagada said that all angles are being examined and the root of this menace will be traced out.Meanwhile condition of those admitted in DHH Rayagada and MKCG medical college Berhmapur, is said to be stable.
Earlier in the day, Sri. Soumendra Priyadarshi, IPS, DIG SWR also visited the area and assessed the situation in the villages showing cases of such severe illness. He also visited the patients in DHH Rayagada and interacted with them and their relatives.
Collector Rayagada visited the bereaved families and ensured them all the required support from the district administration. The BDO Kolnora has been instructed to extend benifit under National Family Benefit Scheme and to refer the case to Sub Collector Rayagada for widow pension.
After local inquiry with the relatives of the deceased and the villagers in the locality including public representatives and SHGs, it has been seen that the incident has been due to consumption of Salapa, a toddy like liquid. The excise squads have taken some samples of the Salapa pots tied to the Salapa tree, wherein it was founds that it contained roots of some trees, locally called as Chera, which is used to ferment the Salapa, in Sunlight. This Chera at times becomes contaminant and results in food poisoning. There has been so far no indication towards any illegal distillation or circulation of spurious liquor in the locality in this matter. However Collector Rayagada said that all angles are being examined and the root of this menace will be traced out.Meanwhile condition of those admitted in DHH Rayagada and MKCG medical college Berhmapur, is said to be stable.
