Bhubaneswar, Feb. 20 -- A political controversy has erupted in Cuttack after Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous accused Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh of failing to address rising jaundice cases in the city, alleging administrative lapses and lack of accountability.

Addressing the media, Firdous claimed that nearly 20 families in Cuttack are currently affected by jaundice and described the situation as a serious public health concern. She alleged that poor sanitation and mismanagement of civic infrastructure have contributed to the spread of the disease.

The MLA alleged that drains in several parts of the city are not being cleaned regularly, leading to unhygienic conditions. She further claimed that contaminated drain water is mixing with...