Rajbiraj, October 26:

Two persons died of diarrhoea in Saptari district yesterday and today. Bhuleshwor Roy, 60, of Portaha-1 died at home today, a family source said. Jayanul Khatun, 60, of Bathnaha Village Development Committee (VDC)-5 died while undergoing treatment at Sagarmatha Zonal hospital. The diarrhoea toll in Saptari has reached 20. Cholera virus has been found in the diarrhoea patients, said senior public health administrator Rakesh Thakur. A total of 50,000 people are at risk of diarrhoea in Saptari district, a public health office said.

According to our Rautahat correspondent, two persons, including a child, have died in Rautahat. The toll has reached to 23.

Siyaram Shah Chanau, 40, of Banjaraha VDC-8 died in the village last night while undergoing treatment after he fell critically ill. He was ill for the past three days and died even after being treated by a doctor at the village, neighbour Grishnandan Singh said. Rajdhari Hajara’s ten-year-old son Ram Ayodhyaya Hajara of Sarmujawa VDC-9 died this morning. He died for lack of the medicine, said a local Sunil Jayasawal.

Head at the Gaur Hospital Dr Ram Shanker Thakur said diarrhoea has gripped at least 42 VDCs in the district and it has come under control at 10 VDCs.

A report from Hetauda said a diarrhoea outbreak in the past two weeks in Makanwanpur’s Sarikhet VDC has claimed the lives of eight, including three children. The victims failed to receive timely treatment. At least 50 persons have fallen sick of diarrhoea.

A medical team has arrived at Sarikhet VDC yesterday. The diarrhoea outbreak at Sarikhet’s VDC no. 7 and 9 has claimed two-and-half-years old Sharmila Chepang, Kami Singh Chepang, Lal Singh Waiba, Jit Bahadur Gole, Sabita Chepang, Sundari Chepang and Aiti Maya Chepand, said former chairman of Sarikhel VDC Lal Bahadur Thapa.

The death is caused largely due to the absence of health personnel at the local health post, non-arrival of health workers at the hit areas, Thapa said.

A member of the medical team Bhola Chaulagai said treatment has begun after its arrival at Sarikhel VDC which is three hours walk from Manahari VDC. It has not yet taken epidemic scale and simply people were not aware to take precaution, he added. The locals did not have to go to Hetaunda or Manahari as the treatment began today.