Bhubaneswar, 15 June (H.S.): In light of rising cases of diarrhoea being reported from several districts, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department has issued an urgent advisory directing all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and district-level officials to initiate immediate preventive and response measures.

Principal Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee has called for enhanced vigilance and real-time monitoring to ensure the sanitisation and safety of all water sources, with particular attention to vulnerable urban pockets. Senior officers in charge of districts have been instructed to stay closely engaged with the situation on the ground and to immediately flag any clusters or patterns of mass reporting.

“Prevention is key. We must act swiftly to safeguard communities and contain the spread,” said Smt. Padhee, while stressing the importance of coordinated field response in partnership with the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Key directions issued include:

Immediate inspection and sanitisation of drinking water sources

Identification and rapid response to potential hotspots

Close coordination with Health Department teams

Sensitisation of field staff and community engagement on hygiene practices

The department is also facilitating emergency water quality checks, increased sanitation drives, and public awareness campaigns to prevent further outbreaks, especially during the pre-monsoon period.

Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, consume only safe drinking water, and promptly report any symptoms to the nearest health facility or urban Health Officials.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda