Odisha: Parents on hunger strike until third child recovers from Japanese Encephalitis

Malkangiri (Odisha) [India], Nov.7 (ANI): Fearing that their third child would meet the same end after their other two children became victims to Japanese Encephalitis, the distraught parents in Odisha's Malkangiri have been on a hunger strike ever since their child has been admitted to hospital. After their initial reluctance over admitting their child in the hospital, Sudrashan Padiyami and Sumitra finally agreed to Malkangiri's District Magistrate Sudarshan Chakravarthy, who persuaded them to do so. "I have told to the District Magistrate that until my child returns safe and sound we will not eat and drink," Sudrashan Padiyami told ANI. Following this, several women organisations met the parents to share their grievances. One of the local organisations named 'Maa' has started protesting outside the district administration demanding immediate preventive measures to tackle the rising menace. Odisha has been the worst victim of Japanese Encephalitis outbreak where more than 80 children have fell victim to the deadly virus. So far 505 villages in the tribal dominated Malkangiri have been affected due to Japanese Encephalitis.(ANI)