Six die of diarrhoea in Assam Tea garden

A total of six people died and another 25 have been affected by diarrhoea in the hospitals of Golaghat and Dergaon while allegation of inappropriate health facilities has come into focus.

People who died between October 12-17 have been identified as Akash Gosain(4), Bul Bul Bhuyan(40), Bhanu Bhuyan(35), Dhaneswar Bhuyan(4 ½), Manju Rabi Das(25),and Sukura Mirdha(26). The woman, Bhanu Bhuyan was pregnant. Out of the deceased, Bul Bul and Bhanu Bhuyan died on Thursday (Oct 16).

All the people, suffering from the disease, belong to Missamara Tea Estate of Golaghat district. The manager of the garden had reported the Golaghat SDMO on October 11 about the outbreak of diarrhoea in the tea garden, but the SDMO failed to take appropriate measures to tackle the problem immediately.

It is also alleged that there are huge gap in the functioning of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the local health department for a long time.

Meanwhile, a team from the Golaghat health Services, led by Joint Director Dr. Mahen Barua has rushed to the garden and installed a rapid recovery camp in the area. A 24- hour ambulance service has also been initiated by the team.

It is to be noted here that a total of 25-30 people had died in diarrhoea at the same garden some three years back, too. People say that it is because of contaminated water which causes the disease amongst the tea-garden population.