Mumbai, August 13:

Panicky residents of India’s financial and entertainment capital continued to throng hospitals in thousands today even as the state government battled with rising numbers of deaths from post-flood diseases. According to Maharashtra government agencies, up to 100 people have died in the past one-week of leptospirosis, dengue, malaria and gastric diseases. Sources, however, say that the actual death toll could be as high as over 150 as most of the casualties

in private hospitals have not been reported to the civic agencies.

“The number of patients that are being admitted to hospitals is rising everyday. Despite making additional beds, we are finding it hard to cope with the situation,” said an official of KEM Hospital in the northern suburb of Parel. “With rising number of deaths, the epidemic panic is slowly spreading all across the city and people and rushing to hospitals even with vague symp-toms or to find out precautionary measures,” added the official who didn’t want to be named. Deputy municipal commissioner VN Patil said more than 2,000 people came to medical camps, set up in densely populated shanty colony of Bharat Nagar in northern city suburb Bandra, in the last two days.