Malda (WB), Nov 03: Diarrohea has claimed 33 lives and affected 7000 others in Harishchandrapur and Chanchol areas of the district in the last ten days, official sources said today. While the exact cause of the large scale incidence of the disease is yet to be found, Chanchol SDO Tarun Singha Roy said polluted drinking water and lack of awareness among the people were the main causes.

Assistant Chief Medical Officer, Health, Swapan Biswas said between 150 to 200 patients were being admitted to the hospitals daily in the two areas and the flow of patients has forced authorities to put up extra tents to admit the sick. However, a large number of those affected were being treated at their homes, he said, adding 18 medical and para medical teams were working in the two areas.

Singha Roy said there was a shortage of IV fluid in the worst affected Harishandrapur II and Chanchol II blocks and the number of medical teams deployed in the two areas needed to be increased.

In the tribal villages of Kandaran, Nayatoli, Bangalpal and Bankalipara under Chanchol II - 13 persons died of diarrohea and related causes in the past seven days. Special care was being taken by the authorities in these four villages, he said. Harishchandrapur MLA Mustaq Alam said Milongar and Simulia villages were newly affected and six inhabitants, including two children had died in three days.

He appealed for deployment of more medical teams and allotment of more medicine.

Bureau Report