Teesta rises again, diarrhoea spreads

Diarrhoea claimed two more lives in Dimla upazila on the day, raising the toll to nine in the last 10 days.

The victims are Shaheed Mia, 3, of Dohol Para and Lucky, 4, of Jharsinhessor village.

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At lease 426 people were treated for diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases in the last seven days and the number is rising, according to Dimla Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Nurul Islam Prodhom.

A temporary medical camp has been set up in East Chatani union to combat the disease.

He told this correspondent that an acute crisis of saline is prevailing as the supply is exhausted.

Water-borne diseases are spreading in the district, he said.

According to unofficial sources, about 5000 people have so far been attacked by diarrhoea.

District health department officials said 10 medical teams are working in the worst affected areas of Dimla.

Acute scarcity of drinking water is prevailing in Kaligong, East Chatnai, Khalisha Chapani, Baish Pukur, Khagakharibari and Naotara villages. Water purification tablets are also scarce, sources said.

Massive erosion by Teesta and its tributaries made at least 500 families homeless in Chotokhata, Doh-elpara, Vendabari, Jharsinhessor, Dauabari, Holdibari and Golmunda villages in Dimla and Sadar upazilas.