Cholera Death Toll reaches 165

Despite the government's claim that it has succeded in checking the spread of Cholera in the tribal districts Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahandi, the official death toll due to cholera and diarrhoea reached 165. Unofficial sources claim that the death toll may be over 300 in all the three districts of the state.

Politicians have started playing the blame game, with former CM Giridhar Gamang and PCC President Jayadev Jena holding a press conference after touring Dasmantpur block of Koraput district. They claimed that over 500 people had died owing to the epidemic. They took this opportunity to demand the resignation of the Naveen Patnaik government for its failure to bring the situation under control.