Viral diseases have downed hundreds of people in the landslide-affected areas of Phalelung Rural Municipality in Panchthar.

 The people in wards 3 and 4 of Phalelung have been hit hardest by a spate of viral disease outbreaks, according to Bir Bikram Thamsuhang, chairman of Phalelung-3.

Complaints of cold, headache, fever and soar throats, among others, are common among people in the two wards, he said.

The outbreak, which started 10 days ago, has not stopped as local health

facilities are without essential medicines to treat the sick.  Thamsuhang said the health posts based at Memeng, Ektin, Siding, Yangnam and Nangin were of no aid to the sick people. The District Administration Office has been notified about the situation, but help has not arrived, he added.

Raju Rai, a local man, said the disease outbreaks stemmed from the rotting carcasses of cattle that had died in the August 10 landslide. 

Hundreds of dead, decomposing cattle lay either exposed or partially buried around the settlements, polluting the environment, he added. Dr Bhupal Shrestha, at the District Hospital in Phidim, said the number of patients suffering from viral diseases had increased of late.

Pollution and consumption of contaminated food and water are the main reasons behind these outbreaks, he added, noting that the hospital was seeing up to 200 cases of viral diseases daily in the wake of recent landslides and floods.

The August 10 landslides at Memeng and Malebung of Phalelung Rural Municipality destroyed 40 houses, killed at least four people and displaced around 200 people.

Ward member dies

DADELDHURA: A ward member of Dadeldhura’s Parshuram Municipality-6 has died in a flood in Pantura River, police said. The body of Nar Bahadur Dhami, who was missing after being swept away by the rain-swollen river on Sunday, was found on Monday.

Prez and Sheetal Niwas staff donate to monsoon victims

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has donated her one month’s salary to the survivors of floods and landslides through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Besides the President donating a month’s salary, the Shital Niwas staff also donated parts of their wages to the fund, the Office of the President said in a statement.