Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: A dog-bite victim is set to get compensation from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation after running from pillar to post for nearly 24 years.

P.K. Mohapatra, 56, a resident of Godi Pokhari Sahi in the Old Town area, had asked for recompense after developing complications, including paralysis in both legs, after taking anti-rabies vaccination at the corporation hospital here.

The housing and urban development department, acting on recommendation of the State Commission for Persons with Disability, has directed the civic body to pay the victim Rs 3 lakh.

The corporation will hand over the amount to Mohapatra tomorrow.

“Following the direction of the housing and urban development department, we will pay the relief amount to the victim,” said municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra.

“We have already finished the process, which is required for granting of compensation. The victim is likely to receive the amount on Wednesday,” he said.

The victim was admitted to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Hospital in October 1989 with complaints of complications after he had taken seven anti-rabies injections.

Mohapatra was discharged after 23 days, but by that time, both his legs were paralysed.

Thereafter, though Mohapatra went to a number of hospitals and private clinics, including SCB Medical College and Hospital, there was no improvement in his condition.

The victim had also moved Orissa High Court, seeking compensation.

In January 2008, the high court directed the state government to take a decision and consider paying him a compensation.

In July, the state commission directed the secretary of the housing and urban development department to review the representation of Mohapatra.

During the hearing in August, Baijayanti Das, who was then the director in charge of medical education and training, said there was no alternative to the anti-rabies vaccination treatment at that time, and accepted that in some rare cases, patients developed neurological complications such as in the case of Mohapatra.

Baijayanti said the post-vaccinal effects might have led to paralysis.

“I have been running from pillar to post to get the relief amount as my entire productive life was lost, and at the same time, I had to spend a lot for prolonged treatment without any improvement.

“However, my wait to get justice seems to be finally over with the department directing the civic body,” said Mohapatra, who moves in a wheel chair.