TEZPUR, Oct 27 � In the tea garden areas of Biswanath Chariali, under Biswanth subdivision in Sonitpur district diarrhoea has become an epidemic which has claimed 11 lives till date.
The tea gardens, namely Pratapgarh, Sakomoto, Nilpur, Majuligarh and Sadharu, are the worst effected in diarrhoea.
According to SDMO, Biswanath Chariali, Dr. A.K. Bhattacharjee seven patients were died at Biswanath civil hospital of diarrhoea till today. He said the diarrhoea affected patients were treated at the tea garden hospitals initially. When the condition of the patients became critical, they were shifted to civil hospital for further treatment.
He further added that the tea garden workers were worst affected as they are not aware of proper health and hygiene and sanitation.
The sweets sold during puja festivals in the tea garden were one of the root causes for the epidemic. The sweets were sold in unhygienic condition and were of poor quality, he added. The illicit country liquor consumed by the tea garden workers also exaggerated the problem, he added. The health department has taken necessary steps to curb the epidemic by holding health camps in effected areas, he added. He further added that six patients were tested positive in cholera.
The Deputy Superintendent of Biswanath Chariali Civil Hospital, Dr. Bedanidhi Sarmah informed this correspondent that from October 4 the patients from nearby tea gardens admitted in the hospital with complain of diarrhoea.
So far 131 patients were treated in this hospital, he added.
The Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur has rushed to Biswanath Chariali to take stock of the situation.
