JE death toll rises

Malkangiri: With the death of two more children at the district headquarters hospital here on Friday, the toll from Japanese encephalitis reached 64 in 42 days in the district. The deceased were identified as Muna Sagadia, 4, of Gamphakonda under Kalimela block and Bharti Nag, 3, of Gulikonda in Chhattisgarh.

Trains halted

Bhubaneswar: Movement of trains on the Jagdalpur-Visakhapatnam rail route has been stalled following the derailment of a goods train near Maliguda railway station between Jeypore and Koraput stations on Friday morning. While several trains on this route have been cancelled, Hirakhand Express which was on its way to Jagdalpur, had to be terminated at Koraput railway station.

Potato plan

Bhubaneswar: The state government plans to cultivate potato in 460 hectares belonging to the SC and ST development department as part of its Potato Mission. 

Vigilance raid

Sambalpur: Vigilance sleuths raided the houses and offices of Berhampur Development Authority planning member Rajkishore Sahoo following allegations of possession of disproportionate assets. 

Girl run over

Sambalpur: A five-year-old girl died after being run over by a truck at Mahabir chhak within the Rengali police station limits in the district on Friday. The girl, identified as Haripriya Khadia, was crossing the road at Mahabir chhak when the speeding truck hit her. She was rushed to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Burla in critical condition but succumbed to her injuries at the heatlh care centre.

Four guilty

Kalahandi: A vigilance court on Friday punished four government officials in Kalahandi district for their role in embezzling funds meant for construction of roads in the district. The court awarded two years imprisonment to each and ordered them to pay Rs 5,000 as penalty. The officials were identified as junior engineer P.K. Panda, assistant engineers Nigamananda Panda and Ashwini Sharma and assistant project director of the district’s rural development agency M.S. Patnaik.

New hostels

Bhubaneswar: An executive council meeting of the Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority held at the state secretariat here on Friday decided to set up as many as eight new hostels for students who are deprived of education in the state's urban areas. The hostels of four Kasturva Gandhi Girls Schools will also be increased to 150 each to accommodate students.