SURKHET/RUKUM: Three more persons succumbed to diarrhoea in Jajarkot today. They have been identified as Bhadri Khatri (60) of Dhime, Lakali Sen (53) of Nayakbada and a local of Nayakbada-5. A woman and her son died in Jajarkot district last night since there was nobody to take them to a health camp. Hemkali Pun (35), a resident of Lahan VDC, died before she could be taken to a health camp in Dalli, while her 11-year-old son Ram Bahadur died soon after, local Lam Bahadur Khadka said. The camp is at five-hour-walk from their village. There are other diarrhoea patients in the village awaiting treatment. The death doll has reached 172 in Jajarkot. A number of VDCs in the district still face the shortage of medicine. Adverse weather condition has restricted the helicoptersflight, affecting the supply of medicine and personnel. In Rukum, two persons died of diarrhoea in Aathbisakot VDC today, bringing the toll to 42. The dead are Tasbir Damai (62) and Kali Nepali (8). Human rights activists said the patients were deprived of their right to health and were dying due to the government's apathy.

More deaths in Dailekh

Dailekh: With five more deaths today, the diarrhoea toll in Dailekh has reached 15. Motilal Puri of Gamaudi, Rangadhari Bista and Dilli Prasad Upadhyay of Bhauri Kalikathum, Tuli Kami and her nine-year-old daughter of Bhairu were those succumbed to the disease. The disease had first appeared in Jagannath VDC. The District Public Health Office has solicited support of political parties, local administration and civil society to control the disease. — HNS