KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today issued an interim order directing the government authorities to protect life and liberty of the people living in hilly districts of western Nepal by controlling the outbreak of diarrhoea.

A single bench of Justice Rajendra Prasad Koirala issued the order responding to a Public Interest Litigation filed yesterday.

"Do the needful in order to control the loss of life and liberty of the people," the bench directed Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Communications, Department of Health and District Public Health Offices.

Kamal Niol, a resident of Surkhet, had filed the petition demanding an apex court order to control the epidemic that has been taking toll in Rukum, Rolpa, Dailekh and Jajarkot districts.

The petitioner also sought an order to declare the districts health hazardous zone and to effect curative measures to tame the outbreak, as per Infectious Disease Act, 1963.