Malaria, jaundice claim 20 lives in Arunachal in a week

Though medicines have been rushed they are hardly adequate, says report

Diseases like malaria and jaundice have claimed 20 lives since last week in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh, an official report said today.

"This is not the first time when such an epidemic has broken out in Wancho area. In the past, too many such epidemics have been reported. The reason may be due to the unhygienic way of living and lack of proper health-care facilities," the report said.

"Though medicines have been rushed they are hardly adequate," it said.

When contacted, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Public Relation Department, Thangwang Wangham, said that the situation is alarming as every day new cases are being reported.

Wangham, who is the local MLA, said though health workers were in the field there was no tangible respite.

The MLA, who is camping at Longding to monitor the situation, has appealed the state government to send relief and more medicines.