Bhubaneswar: In response to an uproar from the Opposition regarding the deaths of two tribal individuals in Kandhamal after consuming mango kernel, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered an administrative inquiry to be conducted by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC). Roopa Roshan Sahoo, the RDC of the Southern Division, will lead the inquiry and submit a detailed report on the incident.
The tragedy occurred in Mandipanka village near Daringbadi, where two individuals lost their lives and six others fell seriously ill after eating mango kernel gruel. Of the six affected, two critically ill patients are currently receiving treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra, has rejected allegations that the kernel gruel was responsible for the deaths, instead attributing the fatalities to food poisoning. He stated that all 69 families in Mandipanka village received rice under the public distribution system from July to September but had not collected their quota for October to December, as they already had sufficient grain stored at home.
In a statement, the Information and Public Relations department confirmed that the two deceased women, Ramita Patamajhi and Runu Majhi, died due to food poisoning after consuming the mango kernel. Six other individuals are currently undergoing treatment, highlighting the need for urgent attention to food safety in the region.