Report by  Kahnu Nanda; Jagatsinghpur: At least three people were killed including a girl child and about 70 residents have been affected following cholera broke out in Dobhala village under Borekina Panchayat in Balikuda block past one week, reports said that most of the victims are undergoing treatment in headquarters hospital here and Borekina, Balikuda PHCs.

Sources said that the deceased’s have been identified as Nari Sethy [70], Kailash Barik [45] and Ankita Barik a five year old girl child of Sudhansu Barik and affected victims shifted to headquarters hospital for treatment on Saturday night have been named as Betani Sethy, Anju Barik, Rangalata Barik, Nandei Sethy and Bebina Barik, meanwhile hospital sources said that their conditions are fast curing and would be discharged soon. 

Report said that this coastal village has population of about 700 numbers, and one week ago few people had complained suffering stomach ailments and dehydration and the illness turned to cholera when Nari Sethy a septuagenarian died in home on Wednesday night, soon after numbers of cholera affected people had grown inside village and till date about 5 to 7 people are going to be affected daily shifting to hospital for treatment.

Ironically the nearby Borekina PHC suffers without any doctor past six years, one retired doctor has posted on contractual  and a pharmacist are catering medical service at hospital as consequence victims have opted either moving Balikuda PHC or headquarters hospital for treatment after cholera broke out in village.

The district headquarters hospital sources said after information reached a medical team comprising doctors, pharmacists and health staff have sent to village to study the situation and our medical team preliminary investigation indicates that due to using contaminated water the villagers have been affected, and we are taking all health related measures at village, informed Bijaya Sahoo, chief district medical officer.