CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Dec 11: As the authorities failed to take any effective measures to combat diarrhoea, the waterborne disease has taken an alarming turn in the district claiming 72 lives in last three months, reports UNB.

According to officials. 16,739 people were also attacked by the disease during the period.

But unofficial sources said that the death toll would be much higher than the official one.

Of the deaths. 46 were reported from Sadar thana. 23 from ShlbganJ and one each from Bholahat. Nachol and Gomastapur thanas.

The officials, who preferred not to be named, said 13 people died in September. 42 in October and 17 In November.

They said 5.537 people were affected by the disease In September, 7,000 in October and 4,202 in November.

Local people allege that although 74 medical teams were working to fight the out break of diarrhoea, but there was no physician In the teams.