Nuapada, July 1: Use of contaminated water has led to the spread of diarrhoea in Nuapada district. Two people died in Sargiguda village of Boden block in the last two days. Another person succumbed to the disease in Jamgaon village of Komna block today.

Medical teams have rushed to the affected villages with the mobile health unit and have started treatment of the patients. Medical officials attributed the spread of the disease to the consumption of contaminated water. Most of the migrant labourers, who are returning home from other states, have been affected with the disease, said the health officials.

Official sources said that two villagers of Sargiguda in Boden block, Kunu Tandy, 28, and Ullasa Naik, 55, had succumbed to the disease in the last two days while some 50 villagers are still suffering from diarrhoea.

A team led by additional district medical officer (ADMO), Dr Santilata Dash has been camping in the village and treating the affected patients. Dash said that the situation was alarming, but it had been brought under control.

“A team of health officials are camping in the village to treat the patients. We are also taking up purification of the water of ponds and wells of the village,” she said.

Doctors attributed reasons of the spread of diarrhoea to the use of contaminated water by the villagers from the ponds and wells.

Dr Ranjan Kujur of Boden primary health centre said: “Now, the migrant labours, who had gone to other states for work, are returning home and most of them have been affected by diarrhoea. Since diarrhoea is a contagious disease, it is spreading fast. Moreover, the ponds and wells of the village from where the villagers were using water had been lying in extremely unhygienic condition. The villagers also were falling prey to the contaminated water. We are purifying the water bodies of the village.”

Meanwhile, another person of Jamgaon village inside Sunabeda sanctuary succumbed to the disease today.

Reports said 10 other villagers have been affected by the disease. Health officials have rushed to the village to take stock of the situation.