The dead victims are two-month-old Ridoy of Malenga village and four-month-old Oliullah of Bowltali village in Sadar upazila, according to hospital sources.

Acute scarcity of pure drinking water has been prevailing in the affected areas. Shortage of oral saline (IV) and other necessary drugs has aggravated the situation. Poor patients are the worst sufferers as they have to buy medicine in open market at an exorbitant rate.

Shahadat Hossain Thakur of Gopalpur village in Sadar upazila, a guardian of a patient who is undergoing treatment at the Sadar hospital told The Daily Star, 'A doctor handed over me a slip to bring medicine from outside, but a pharmacist told the medicines are available at the government hospital'.

Dr Md Shahjahan, Civil Surgeon, Gopalganj told this correspondent the situation is under control as nine medical teams are working in areas and three camps have been opened.