Ranchi, Aug. 18: A 14-year-old Dumka schoolgirl died of cerebral malaria last night at a government-aided hospital, making hers the first confirmed malarial death in Santhal Pargana this past month, though unconfirmed toll has touched 15 or so.

Pinki Kumari of Dumka's Kathikund block was confirmed to die of cerebral malaria at 9.30 last night.

This monsoon, Pakur, Godda and Dumka in Santhal Pargana are in the grip of malaria and diarrhoea, both water-related diseases. Vector-borne malaria occurs when anopheles mosquitoes breed in standing water. Diarrhoea occurs when people consume impure water.

Again, last night in Dumka, two men aged 35 and 36 died of suspected diarrhoea in Gopkikandar block, but as the deaths did not take place at a health centre, the administration refused to confirm the cause. In Pakur, 16 diarrhoeal deaths have been confirmed by the administration but unofficially toll figures have crossed 30.

In both the diseases, the lack of official district figures has blurred the magnitude of the problem. Health officials seem to be in denial.

Contacted for his reaction on Pinki's death, Dumka district civil surgeon Dr Vinod Kumar Saha said: "We came to know about the death this morning and a team has been sent to the hospital to collect further details."

All health centres had been supplied with oral rehydration solution packets and water collection sources were being chlorinated, he claimed.

"Clean-up efforts are underway and the situation is not bad," the Dumka civil surgeon said. "True, cases of malaria are being reported but people are getting cured," he added.

About the two suspected diarrhoeal deaths yesterday, he said: "I do not have information but I will find out."

When this correspondent contacted Dr Vijay Khanna, state malaria control officer in Ranchi, around 5.30pm today, he said he was not aware of Pinki's death in Dumka.

While Dr Khanna accepted malaria cases were on the rise across the districts and not just Santhal Pargana, he was quick to add that treatment arrangements were adequate.

"Rapid diagnostic test kits have been provided everywhere, including anganwadi centre levels, so that people are tested and immediately given medicines," he said. ?

In Pakur, civil surgeon Dr Nalini Kant Mehra confirmed 16 diarrhoeal deaths. "Since Pakur has difficult terrain, we are organising camps where patients may find it tough to reach health centres. Anganwadis have been asked to be the first point-of-contact for malaria and diarrhoea patients," Dr Mehra said.

Dr Pravin Chandra, director-in-chief health services, said the state had enough medicines to treat malaria and diarrhoea. "All we need is to get in touch with patients for which we have alerted the sahiyas (grassroots health workers)."