Stagnant and slow-receding waters pose a substantial disease threat along the southern plains hit by one of the worst floods in decades.

According to health officials, hundreds of flood displaced people have been suffering from various infections due to contaminated drinking water and polluted environment caused by the floods. Diarrhoeal diseases, fever, common cold, gastritis, conjunctivitis and skin infection are common among the flood victims.

In Banke, scores of flood victims at the Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality have been deprived of treatment after the floodwaters inundated the Phattepur-based Primary Health Centre, destroying all the medicines.

The Nepal Army (NA) airlifted six seriously-ill victims to Nepalgunj on Tuesday. The Army had also rescued two sick victims from the area on Sunday and admitted them at the Bheri Zonal Hospital.

Locals in Dudawa have also been deprived of treatment as the floods triggered by heavy rainfall over the past week flooded the local health facilities.

Hundreds of flood victims have fallen ill at Kamaiya Danda in Rapti Sonari-6, Tikulipur, Balapur, Phattepur, Baijapur, Kachanapur, among other places, according to the District Public Health Office (DPHO) in Banke. It said around 500 people from flood affected areas were receiving treatment in various health facilities.

“Many have fallen sick after drinking contaminated water. We have dispatched health workers in all the flood-affected areas in the district,” said Khim Bahadur Khadka, the senior officer at the DPHO Banke. 

The local administration has urged the Army for the rescue of the ailing flood victims in Rapti Sonari Village which has been disconnected since Friday. Triggered by incessant rainfall, the Rapti river swept away parts of the road at Sidhaniyaghat.

In Kailali, around 80 people were treated at Narayanpur Health Post in Tikapur-6 for diarrhoea, fever, headache and conjunctivitis.

Flood victims in Saptari, one of the most affected districts in the eastern Tarai, are sharing the same fate, with many now suffering from various illnesses. “We have been out on the road without food and clean drinking water for the past four days. Many of the elderly, expectant and postpartum mothers, and children have fallen ill,” said Budhan Mukhiya of Hanumannagar Kulauni.

Adding to their woes, the victims could not get medical attention. “My two-month-old daughter is suffering from fever. There is no health post nearby and I have no money to take her to a hospital,” said another flood displaced Anila Devi Mukhiya.

Locals of Rampura Malhaniya wade in floodwaters to reach their destinations.