Jajpur/Bhadrak: Amid a surge in diarrhoea cases, the district administrations of Jajpur and Bhadrak have ordered the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure.

In Jajpur, all schools and Anganwadi centres will remain closed until June 24, as per a directive issued by District Collector P. Anvesha Reddy. However, school teachers and Anganwadi workers have been instructed to continue attending their respective institutions to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Bhadrak district, the administration has also ordered the closure of all educational institutions, including colleges, in response to the health crisis. Institutions in Bhadrak will remain closed till June 21.

Earlier in the day, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond stated the decision to reopen schools in diarrhoea-affected districts will rest with the respective District Collectors, depending on the prevailing situation. He added the Collectors have been authorised to extend the closure, if the situation deteriorates.

As of June 18, the diarrhoea outbreak in Jajpur has claimed 13 lives, while 196 patients are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals, according to Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr. Bijay Mishra.

Meanwhile, three joint teams comprising experts from the Centre and Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Department visited Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Cuttack districts to assess the situation.

In Jajpur, Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Director of Public Health, Odisha, and Dr. N. Somalkar from the Centre, along with officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), conducted a field visit.

In Cuttack, Dr. B. Diwvedi and Dr. S. Mohanty from the Centre, along with Dr. Pramila Baral, Additional Director of Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Department, carried out inspections.

Similarly, in Bhadrak, Dr. P. Ghose and Dr. G. Choudhury from the Centre, along with Dr. Subhasish Mohanty, Joint Director of the Health and Family Welfare Department, reviewed the situation.

The three expert teams assessed the measures being implemented by district administrations to combat the outbreak and provided necessary recommendations to local medical staff and field teams.