RDC Investigates Deaths and Illnesses in Kandhamal Linked to Mango Kernel Consumption

Bhubaneswar: Following the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, visited Mandipanka village in Daringbadi block, Kandhamal district, on Wednesday to probe the alleged deaths and health complications caused by the consumption of mango kernels.

During her visit, RDC Sahoo interacted with the affected families, ward members, local community representatives, and civil society organizations. She was accompanied by the Collector and other officials from the Kandhamal district, who were part of the investigation process.

The RDC conducted a thorough inspection of the records related to the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the large area multipurpose societies (LAMPS) in the village. The team is focusing on gathering more information to determine the cause of the deaths and illnesses.

According to initial reports, the tragic incidents occurred when two women from the village reportedly died after consuming a gruel made from mango kernels. In addition, six other individuals fell seriously ill, with two of them being transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack due to the severity of their conditions.

Following the visit, RDC Sahoo assured that a comprehensive enquiry report will be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) within the next seven days, after further review of the relevant information and findings from the ongoing investigation.

This incident has raised concerns about the safety of consuming mango kernels, and the local authorities are working to ensure that proper health measures are in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.