The BJP on Monday came down on the Orissa government for its “failure” to contain the outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district, even as one more infant died of the disease, taking the death toll in the vector-borne ailment to 57 in 38 days. Speaking to reporters, BJP state general secretary Bhrugu Buxipatra said while the state government had put the death toll at 56, the fact is more than 150 children have died in Malkangiri district.

“Besides, children of 99 villages of six blocks are afflicted with the disease while nine children have died in last three days. From this, it is clearly evident that the state government is trying its best to hide the facts,” he added. “The BJP asks the state government to give a detailed list of distribution of 60 lakh mosquito nets supplied by the Centre. Besides, the Orissa State Medical Corporation Ltd has the money to purchase 30 lakh mosquito nets.

“The state government has not purchased the nets for the past two years as it has not floated any tender. The concerned minister had made a statement in this regard in the assembly. The latest death was due to the delay in the distribution of nets,” Mr Buxipatra alleged, adding that the state government provided only 11,000 nets to date which are not sanitised.