Bhubaneswar: A jaundice outbreak has reportedly affected more than 300 students at a private educational institution in Sambalpur, and that some critical cases have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for treatment.In a statement, BJD media coordinator Lenin Mohanty alleged that a large number of students of the institution had contracted jaundice in recent days, raising concerns over health and safety conditions on the campus. He claimed that parents of affected students informed the party that several students whose condition deteriorated had been referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital.Chief district medical and public health officer, Sambalpur, Nilamadhav Satapathy said their team has collected water samples from the institution and examining the reason of contamination. “A food safety officer was also sent to examine whether food is contaminated. As a precautionary measure, the students have been asked to vacate hostels for now,” he said.“The infection of such a large number of students in a single institution is a matter of grave concern. Reports suggest the disease may have spread due to water contamination,” said Mohanty.The party further alleged that the institution had asked hostel inmates to vacate the premises on Oct 29 after authorities failed to contain the spread of the disease. Mohanty said the administration had collected water samples from the campus and conducted tests, but the findings had not been made public.He also alleged that despite the seriousness of the situation, no action had been taken against the institution. “We demand immediate intervention by the local administration and necessary steps to protect students and address the health crisis,” he said.