Dharmendra Pradhan blames Odisha govt for Encephalitis deaths

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the Odisha government's "failure" to take preventive measures to check Japanese Encephalitis had led to the deaths of 50 infants.

"The local government (Naveen Patnaik government) failed to take preventive measures, and that is the main reason for this kind of alarming scenario in Malkangiri district of Odisha," he told reporters after inaugurating Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited's Green R&D Centre near Hoskote, about 30 kms from here.

Pradhan said the Centre was extending all kind of support to the Odisha government to bring the disease under control. "The government of India is extending every kind of help. Hope that things are under control. It could have been prevented by taking preventive measures. Now, let us see - let us work together to prevent that epidemic," he said.