Tarkughat, August 22:

Diarrhoea has been raging in wards 7 and 9 of Tarkughat VDC in Lamjung district for a week, with over 100 persons having taken to their sickbeds.

On Monday, 75-year-old Nar Bahadur Gurung had succumbed to diarrhoea. Nar Bahadur’s 28-year-old son Chandra Bahadur, who performed his father’s last rites, and daughter-in-law Deepa, 19, also contracted severe diarrhoea after handling his body.

Led by Dr Jagannath Tiwari, a team of five health workers from the Lamjung community hospital reached the affected area today. The arrival of the medical team provided relief, said locals, adding that the team also treated Chandra Bahadur who is still in mourning for his father.

Over 100 patients queued up at Bir Bhakti higher secondary school in Tarkughat to get medical treatment after they learnt of the team’s arrival.

Health assistant Jhalak poudel said that the condition of seriously ill Chandra Bahadur and wife Deepa, Phoolmaya Gandharva, 30, Purnakala Gandharva, 28, Kamala Gandharva, 30 and Rabina Gandharva, 10, improved after medication.

As saline water was not available at medicine shops in Kalimati bazaar of Tanahun district or Tarkughat bazaar locals were eking out with a solution of salt sugar dissolved in water, said a local girl Dipika Gurung.

Dr Jagannath Tiwari said contaminated drinking water was the cause of the diarrhoea outbreak. The district public health office said a team of health worker would continue to monitor the situation for some days.

Meanwhile, Lamjung hospital sources said the number of those suffering from diarrhoea, viral fever and conjunctivitis is on the rise.