To prevent jaundice from assuming alarming proportions in Sambalpur city in western Odisha, the state government Monday said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary Gokul Pati would visit the city Wednesday to take stock of the situation.
After reviewing the situation with Health Secretary Arati Ahuja and other officials of the department Monday, Pati directed that medicines be provided free of cost in the area.
The government confirmed that 1270 people have been affected by the disease while 17 people have died.
The district administration is working full-steam to repair water supply pipelines and clean up drains.
"We have plugged all leakages in the water supply system and removed, replaced pipelines in the affected areas to ensure supply of safe drinking water," said Manoj Ranjan Nanda, executive engineer, PHED Sambalpur.