The death toll in Dooars and Terai region of North Bengal due to malaria reached 60 in the past two and a half months till yesterday.
Chief midical officer (health), Jalpaiguri, Dr Bhusan Chakraborty, today said 48 malaria deaths were reported in Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district, mainly in Alipurduar sub-division. Two died in the past two days in the area.In the Terai region at Naxalbari, 12 persons fell victim of the disease till July 11, the deputy CMOH(2) of Siliguri, Dr. Partha Sarathi Bhattacharjee said.
The unofficial toll was almost double as many patients died of fever without blood test and confirmation of the desese.
However, Health Minister Suryakanta Mishra said at the assembly in Kolkata yesterday that 40 malarial deaths were reported from three North Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar so far this year, with Alipurduar sub-division alone accounting for 25 fatalities.
Mishara had visited north Bengal on July 10 and held a meeting with the district magistrates, sabhadhipatis and CMOHs of six districts of North Bengal on the outbreak of malaria.
Alipurduar Town Gurdians Forum has called a dawn to dusk bandh in Alipurduar sub-division tomorrow in protest against the alleged negligence of the health department in taking measures against malaria.
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