Muzaffarpur, June 25: Two more children in the district died of encephalitis today, taking the toll to 42.

The death of kids aged six and seven years old, was reported from Kejriwal Maternity Clinic and Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH).

Many other kids, mostly aged between three and nine years, have been admitted to the two health hubs in the district over the past few days and they have been diagnosed with encephalitis.

A total of 16 kids were admitted to Kejriwal Maternity Clinic, while seven others were taken to SKMCH for treatment.

Deputy superintendent of SKMCH Dr Sunil Shahi told The Telegraph: “A girl died during course of her treatment today. The condition of six other ailing children, who are undergoing treatment under full medical supervision, is stable.”

Director of Bihar State Health Committee Dr Surendra Prasad, along with doctors belonging to Regional Medical Institute, Patna, visited Muzaffarpur and took stock of the prevailing situation. Prasad held a detailed discussion with the attending doctors of SKMCH and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic and expressed satisfaction over the treatment.

Thereafter, Dr Prasad met the chief medical officer, Dr A.P. Singh, and visited Mustafapur village under Minapur block. Dr Prasad shared his views with the family members of several ailing children from the village.

Meanwhile, the district magistrate, Santosh Kumar Mall, held a review meeting with the CMO, Dr A.P. Singh, deputy superintendent of SKMCH, Dr Sunil Shahi, and a team of doctors from Kejriwal Maternity Clinic here today and asked them to take utmost care of the kids.

On other hand, a team of senior RJD leaders led by former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, along with Ram Kirpal Yadav and Ghulam Gaus visited SKMCH and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic and decried the failures of the state government to save the children’s lives.

“The health department in Bihar has collapsed and the much-publicised slogan of a sensitive government led by Nitish Kumar is exposed. The health department officials are in darkness to save the lives of the children from the menace of encephalitis,” the former Union minister said.