Sankhuwasabha, June 13:

Diarrhoea outbreak has gripped the district headquarters, Khandbari, and adjoining areas resulting in the Sankhuwasabha district hospital unable to cope with the rising number of patients.

Number of diarrhoea and dysentery patients has shot up suddenly with villagers having no alternative but to consume polluted water being supplied to Khandbari, Syabun, Dhupu, and Sittalpati.

With few beds, the patients were being kept on the floor and benches, said chief district public health officer Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini. The patient rush is so much that even critically ill patients were deprived of beds, he added.

The Khandbari hospital has 15 beds but the number of diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid patients alone is 20.

Hospital said the drinking water being supplied to Khandbari is contaminated. This may lead to an epidemic, the hospital warned.

A test Sekaha in Khandbari-5 yesterday confirmed that the water there was not fit for drinking.