Forest Range Officer of K Singhpur block Prafulla Kumar Nayak (56) succumbed to Covid-19 infection while under treatment at the MKCG Hospital, Brahmapur.This is the first ever death in the second wave of Covid 19. Nayak was celebrating Holi at the DFO's residence. A senior officer, who belongs to Nabarangapur, acted as super spreader in the celebration. Unofficial sources said that 23 forest officials got affected with Corona virus and were quarantined. Nayak got admitted in Covid Health Centre at JK Pur. When his health condition deteriorated, he was referred to the MKCG Hospital at Brahmapur, where he died on Tuesday during treatment.
Rayagada Nagarika Manch Ajay Rath said, "Unfortunately, there is no full-fledged dedicated Covid Hospital in Rayagada having ICU beds and ventilators unlike the neighbouring districts like Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Gajapati. Instead, it has a dedicated Covid health centre without a single ICU bed and ventilator." The distress migration problem in the district is not fully tackled. The migrant returnees are a big worry for the spread of infection.
Though the administration is boasting to have utilised 83% of funds allocated for MGNREGA, the ground reality is different. Recently, the tribal women of Hatikhamba village in Kolnara block gheraoed a propaganda vehicle for Government schemes and protested it for falsehood.
