Sundargarh: The rumour mill went on an overdrive in Bonai sub-division of the district as an unprecedented rush was witnessed at COVID vaccination centres spurred by the hearsay that the people who have not been vaccinated by Independence Day will be deprived of their PDS ration.
The vaccination centres in Bonai sub-division of the district witnessed unprecedented rush after rumours regarding discontinuation of ration supply to unvaccinated people began to swirl in the area.
People stood in long queues at Bonai sub-divisional hospital, Lahunipada hospital, Gurundia and other centres with some of them turning up from 3 am to take the vaccine.
“Some people are saying that if we do not take the vaccine by August 15, the PDS items will not be given to us. Even our ration cards will be made invalid. Besides, we have to pay for the vaccination,” said one of the villagers standing in the queue.
But Bonai sub-collector Pradeep Kumar Dang scotched the rumour and said the administration had not taken any such decision or made any announcement.
He further said he would direct the BDOs to assure the people that they will be vaccinated in a phased manner and they should not believe in such rumour. Besides, an awareness campaign will be taken up at panchayat level, he added.
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