A para-athlete was among two people who died on Sunday morning during treatment, 19 days after being bitten by a rabid dog in Chinched village, Balangir district.Para-athlete Jogendra Chhatria (26) and Hrusikesh Rana (43) were attacked by a stray dog on July 23 while heading to the village pond for a bath. The dog first bit Chhatria on the face before attacking Rana. Both received anti-rabies vaccination at Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital two hours later.“The dog bit six people. We all went to Balangir for treatment. The four returned home as their condition improved. But the doctors at Balangir referred my brother and Rana to Vimsar for better treatment as the duo’s condition had worsened,” said Prem Chhatria, Jogendra’s elder brother.Jogendra, who had a developmental disability, excelled in sports like floorball, athletics, and kabaddi, representing at the national level.

Police in Burla have registered a case of unnatural death in connection with the dog bite and subsequent fatalities. “Further investigation in this regard will continue,” said a senior police officer.Shocked by the incident, villagers killed the dog and urged authorities to identify, capture, and rehabilitate rabid dogs.