A diarrhoea outbreak in Kandhamal district of Odisha has claimed five lives and affected 20 others over the past two weeks, according to local officials. The outbreak, which began on September 18 in Kanibali village, has since spread to six nearby villages in the remote Durgapanga panchayat of Kotagarh block.

Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra stated that the outbreak is suspected to have been triggered by a feast held in the village. Health teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to contain the spread, with efforts underway to provide medical care and raise awareness about hygiene practices.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and preventive measures are being implemented to control the spread of the disease in the affected villages.