ZP member dies of dengue

ANGUL: A Zilla Parishad member Ranjit Samal of Purunagarh in Angul district died of dengue on Thursday at Apollo Hospitals in Bhubaneswar. He was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday.MCL Central Hospital sources said 20 per cent of patients admitted here tested positive for dengue. Most of these cases are being referred to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The patients are facing problem with most hospitals there refusing to admit them citing absence of beds. BJP TEAM VISIT: The BJP on Thursday accused the State Government of not responding to the gravity of the situation. A delegation led by former State president Suresh Pujari visited the worst-affected coal mining areas and MCL Central Hospital at Talcher.Pujari said the State Health Department had practically collapsed as it failed to contain the disease despite warning by his party 15 days back.Stating that Central Hospital is flooded with dengue patients, he demanded stationing an expert medical team from Cuttack at Talcher. He also requested industrial units in the district to come forward to help fight dengue.The BJP leader also demanded Rs. 5 lakh compensation to kin of each dengue victim and free medical service to the affected.  Kalandi Samal and Jajati Patnaik accompanied him. In another event, hundreds of SUCI activists led by its leader Manas Pal staged a demonstration in front of Angul collatorate on Thursday demanding an ex gratia of Rs.10 lakh to the kin of each dengue victim, round-the-clock medical services at all hospitals and free ambulance for ferrying dengue patients. They submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, to the ADM.