KHALANGA: Half-a-year after a diarrhoeal outbreak overwhelmed a large number of people in the far- and the mid-western districts, residents of Wards No 6 and 7 in Rukum's Syalakhadi VDC collect drinking water from a pond where buffaloes swim.

According to Shobhiram KC, a Red Cross activist who helped out the villagers during the epidemic, the pond was the sole source of water for the back of beyond villages for the last six years. Rainwater is collected in a large pond above the village, where cattle have been provided an access. While buffaloes take a dip in it, cows as well as goats not only drink water from it but also pollute it with their excreta.

As per the instruction of a witch doctor, the villagers cut off piped water supply years ago. He had reasoned that the polythene pipe had polluted water and made the consumers sick.

Between May and September last year, the diarrhoea epidemic claimed 56 lives in Rukum, orphaning many children. Dhanmaya Giri (15) and Man Bahadur Giri (12) of Aathbis Dadagaun-9 became orphans when their mother died in the epidemic. With their father dead earlier, the two have been left to fend for themselves. While their friends leave for school early in the morning, the two set out to cut grass for their cattle.

They work for their neighbours in order to manage two meals a day. Deepa Shahi of Ward No 3 said the children's condition was pitiable.

Arjun BK (16) of Magma-4 has also been helpless after the death of his mother. Sita Thapa (11) of Gotamkot-5 is alone following the death of her sister in the epidemic. Her parents had died much earlier.

According to District Public Health Office, 22 of the dead were children under 15 years of age. Assistant CDO Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari said main reasons behind the epidemic were polluted water and the lack of hygiene.