State sets example in child health

Bhubaneswar: The drop in the infant mortality rate in Orissa by 30 points over nine years has been the maximum in comparison to other states in the country, revealed a common review mission report of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), New Delhi. The report said the infant mortality rate, which was 97 per 1,000 births in the year 2000, came down to 65 in 2009. The state government is aiming to bring down the figure to 50, said Prasanna Acharya, minister of health and family welfare. He added the state is focusing on providing quality health care facilities to the people through various measures under the NRHM. Acharya said the government has planned the establishment of 35 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU), out of which 14 are already functional. He said the rate of institutional delivery in 2005-06 was 36 per cent, which rose to 77 per cent in 2009-10 and 82 per cent in 2010-11.

Body found

Bhubaneswar: The body of a bank manager was found under mysterious conditions in the Nilagiri area of Koraput district on Wednesday. The deceased, Bipin Mohanty, was heading the Koraput Cental Cooperative Bank. Mohanty had left for the market last night and did not return home. Police are yet to ascertain if the Maoists are, in any way, involved in the incident.

One killed

BHUBANESWAR: One person was killed on Wednesday after accidentally falling into a pond during the rush at a temple for Shivaratri celebrations at Rayagada in Kalyan nagar. The deceased has been identified as Dimanshu Deo. He was working as a gram sevak in the village. His body has been sent for autopsy.

Robber held

Bhubaneswar: Local residents at Rourkela Tangarpalli on Wednesday nabbed a robber while he was attempting a loot. The angry mob pounced on him, leaving him critically injured. The unidentified robber was later handed over to the police. He has been admitted to the district hospital. A country made pistol and bullets have been recovered from his possession.

Seven injured

Keonjhar: Seven people were injured when a private bus in which they were travelling skidded off the road after colliding with a truck on Wednesday. The injured were admitted to various hospitals. Condition of two persons among them has been stated to be critical. The accident took place near Kanto Chhak on National Highway 215 while the bus was on its way to Duburi from Keonjhar. The truck, which was coming from the opposite direction, hit the bus. The accident led to a traffic jam on the road for several hours. Police seized both the vehicles and a case was registered.

Bee attack

Jajpur: Panic prevailed in Kalana and Sulia villages here on Tuesday afternoon as bees went into attack mode. Gajendra Sahu (72) of Sulia village, died and three others were hurt in the incident.