Bhubaneswar: Amid Opposition uproar over the death of two tribal women in Kandhamal after consuming mango kernel gruel, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered an administrative-level inquiry by the RDC into the tragedy. Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of the Southern Division Roopa Roshan Sahoo will conduct the inquiry and submit a report.
Two persons died while six fell seriously ill after eating mango kernel gruel in Mandipanka village in Daringbadi block of the district. Out of six, two critically ill persons are undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Earlier, the Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra rubbished the allegation of the kernel gruel that led to their death. He attributed food positioning to the death.
In Mandipanka village, all 69 families received rice under the public distribution system from July to September. Interestingly, they didn’t collect their October to December quota as they already had enough grain stored at home, Patra said.
The Information and Public Relations department in a statement said earlier that the two women – Ramita Patamajhi and Runu Majhi -in Kandhamal district died due to food poisoning after consuming mango kernel. Six others are under treatment.