Rajbiraj, June 7

There has been a substantial rise in seasonal patients visiting Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Rajbiraj, Saptari of late.

According to hospital sources, patients of viral fever, pneumonia, diarrhoea, common cold and snake bites have been on the sharp rise. Around 50 patients visit the hospital these days while only around 15 to 20 people used to visit previously, says Bijaya Gurmaita, assistant health worker at the emergency department in the hospital.

The temperature recorded in the district was 38.8 degree Celsius today. At least three to four snake bite patients visit the health facility on a daily basis due to the rising mercury. With the sudden rise in the number of patients, they are facing bed crunch and the hospital has started treating patients on the floor. “With the rise in the number of snake bite patients, anti-snake venom has been kept in stock,” said medical superintendent Dr Chumanlal Das.

Other health facilities, both state-owned and private, in the district, have also been witnessing a surge in seasonal patients of late