BHAIRAHAWA: With mercury rising in the southern plains, hospitals and health posts in rural areas of Rupandehi have been crowded with patients.

Owing to the number of medical care seekers, the hospitals find it hard to tend to them. Bhim Hospital and Universal Medical College in Bhairahawa have seen the largest number of patients.

The number of patients grew significantly in the past few days. According to hospital sources, patients between 200 to 400 in number visit them complaining of heat-induced diseases on a daily basis. Diarrhoea, abdominal and chest pain, fever and typhoid are the most common diseases.

“People took ill due to their consumption of unhygienic food and water,” said Dr Badri Nepal. Ailments caused by mosquito bites are also increasing.

According to Public Health Office Rupandehi, health centres had been facing problems in treating patients ever-increasing in number. Patients are flocking to private clinics in Bhairahawa as well. Physicians said drinks consumed in the heat had caused the diseases.