Rautahat, June 20:

Diarrhoea and cholera has gripped Gaindatar village of Chandranigahapur VDC in Rautahat district since the last four days, sickening more than 300 persons.

“Until today at least 100 patients, suffering from diarrhoea and cholera, have come from the village to the Chandranigahapur-based Primary Health Centre. Out of them, 32 patients were in a serious state and were sent to the Birgunj-based Narayani Sub-regional Hospital,” said Dr Mukti Nath Shah at the health centre.

A team of health workers, sent from the district headquarters, is providing treatment to some 200 patients in the village since yesterday, said the patients at the health centre.

“Diarrhoea and cholera broke out due to contaminated drinking water,” Dr Shah said, adding: “The number of patients is on the rise. Owing to the condition of insufficient beds we are housing the patients on the health centre’s floor.”

INSEC representative of Rautahat Bipin Gautam said: “The health centre is creaking under the rigours of the growing number of patients.”