Somnath Bastola /Byas Shankar Itahari/Rajbiraj, September 7:

The aftermath of the Saptakoshi flood fury continues to claim lives with unflinching regularity. Eight displaced, who were housed in various relief camps in Sunsari and Saptari districts, died of high fever and dysentery in the past 24 hours.

So far, the death toll from flood-related diseases stands at 36 — 25 in Sunsari and 11 in Saptari. Five-year-old Nitesh Kumar Kamat and middle-aged Mohamad Usman (50) — both Haripur-8 residents — died of fever in Sunsari today, according to the Sunsari District Police Office. Babita Rai, Jasira Khatun, Sitadevi Hindawal and Taphail Khan of Haripur-2 had died of dysentery last night. Earlier, 19 people had succumbed to fever and dysentery in Sunsari district. “Hundreds are suffering from dysentery in Paschim Kausaha. Timely treatment is few and far between. The displaced have not been able to visit the hospital as flood has swept the Mahendra highway in several places. The condition of 16 in Haripur-2 is critical,” said Kileshwor Yadav, an ex-chairman of Haripur VDC.

Doctors have warned that epidemic scare loomed large if the sanitation in the camps did not improve over the next few days. Meanwhile, two victims, staying in Bhardaha camp in Saptari district, died of dysentery last night. Both are Indian nationals — three-year-old Taphjul Khan of Sitapur in Supaul district and six-month baby Khusbu Ray of Madhepura district in Bihar, according to Saptari District Public Health Office. Earlier, nine people had died of the fever and dysentery in Saptari. Around 25,000 victims have taken shelter in camps at Bhardaha, Portaha and Rajbiraj in Saptari.

Ration and I-cards allotted:

Itahari: Over 18,000 flood victims, who have taken shelter in various government camps, were distributed ration and identity cards on Sunday. Guru Subedi, member-secretary of the District Natural Disaster Relief Committee (DNDC), said the displaced, housed in 18 camps, got the cards that would ease their problems to some extent. The exercise was carried out at Dhanajit Primary School Madhuwan, Jalpapur Madrasa, Shishuniketan Babiya, Rastriya Lower Secondary High School Laukahi, Amar Shanti Sirjana Primary School Balaha, Koshi High School Paschim Kusaha, Prithvi Lower Secondary School Bhokraha, Janata High School Shivagunj, Janata Higher Secondary School Madhuwan, Inaruwa Madrasa, Mithila Public School Laukahi, Jamiya Islamiya Madrasa in Bhokraha and Sripur Primary School. — HNS

Source: The Himalayan Times, 8 September 2008