Bhubaneswar, November 5 : In response to an outcry from the opposition, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has today ordered an inquiry into the recent deaths of two tribal villagers in Kandhamal district, who reportedly succumbed to food poisoning after consuming mango kernel gruel.
The probe will be led by Southern Division Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Roopa Roshan Sahoo, who is expected to submit a comprehensive report on the incident.
The tragedy occurred in Mandipanka village of Gadapur Panchayat near Daringbadi, where two individuals died and six others fell seriously ill after consuming the mango kernel dish. Out of those affected, two critically ill villagers are currently receiving treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Meanwhile, Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra refuted claims that the deaths were directly linked to mango kernel consumption, suggesting instead that food poisoning was responsible. He highlighted that all 69 families in Mandipanka received rice under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from July through September, noting that they had enough grain stored and had not collected their October-December quota.
The Health Department also confirmed that the deaths of Ramita Patamajhi and Runu Majhi were due to food poisoning, with six others from the village currently under medical care.
