A cholera outbreak in Lokharam Musahari Tole, Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality–5 of Saptari has claimed the lives of three members of the same family.
The deceased have been identified as one-year-old Sanjeev Sada, four-year-old Ragini Sada, and 70-year-old Laxman Sada. According to locals, all three died within the span of a week.
Local resident Shiv Shankar Sada said that the victims showed symptoms of high fever and continuous diarrhea, and they died due to the lack of timely medical treatment. More residents in the village have now started showing similar symptoms.
So far, over 15 people in the settlement have shown signs of cholera, including:
- Radhika, 5-year-old daughter of Buchan
- Karina, 10-year-old daughter of Shiv Shankar Sada
- Lilam Devi, 25-year-old wife of Krishna Sada
- Gayatri Kumari, 3-year-old daughter
- Sugandha Kumari, 6-year-old daughter
- Bauku Sada, 60 years old, among others.
Locals have complained that neither the local government nor public health officials have yet taken active measures. “We have been waiting for health workers to arrive, but no one has come so far,” said local resident Shiv Shankar Sada.
Ward Chairperson Jay Prakash Thakur said that after receiving information about the incident, immediate action was initiated. “Health post staff have been mobilized with medicines and treatment support, and the local government is working to prevent further spread of the disease,” he stated.
Experts suspect that the outbreak may have been caused by a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation, worsened by contaminated rainwater during the monsoon. Public health specialists have urged authorities to test water sources and launch a sanitation campaign in the affected areas immediately.
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