TULSIPUR: A diarrhoea epidemic, which had broken out in various parts of wards 3 and 4 of Shantinagar Rural Municipality in west Dang since last Saturday, appears to be gradually coming under control.

Till date, the number of affected has reached 1,631. The local Chiraghat Health Centre received 155 patients in the past five days and most of them have already returned home. Five are undergoing treatment at the centre while one was referred to Rapti Zonal Hospital.

Water supply to the settlements from the source of local Maili River has been completely stopped as the source was found to be contaminated with coliform bacteria which seems to have caused the epidemic. The presence of this bacteria in the river water was confirmed thorough lab test.

According to local representative Kaman Singh Dangi, a technical team from Kathmandu was already there to purify water, and life is getting back to normal.