President of Hailakandi District Tribal Sangha, Rajendra Reang has alleged that although Gastroenteritis, locally called antric disease has become an epidemic in the Mizoram border area of Hailakandi district, the district administration has taken no effective steps to contain the situation. Reang alleged that already more than 17 persons including women and children have lost their lives due to antric. Though the State Health Department of Hailakandi has shown some initiative in this aspect, the Joint Director of the department Dr Samir Kumar Das told that he was only aware of the death of four persons due to the disease. He however denied any knowledge about the alleged spread of an epidemic form of diarrhoea in the area. Dr Das added that the situation assumed a critical phase every year at the same time as due to the drop in the water level in the rivers and other water bodies the people are forced to consume untreated water. With the rains the problem is arrested to a large extent, he said. At least two separate health camps have been started from today in the area under district Health Department and with the joint efforts of Banabasi Kalyan Ashram and Tribal Sangha. The second health camp will cover the Nunaikhola, Kundanala, Borthol, Kachhapchera, Lalcherra and other villages. "The health department of the district is reluctant to take necessary steps even after knowing the facts', alleged Bandana Reang, President, Lala Anchalik Panchayat. She said that the matter has been brought to the notice of the district administration. The doctors and others health workers are also not interested to go to the remote villages citing extremist or insurgent menace, an allegation the tribal leader claims to be baseless. Instead the leader urged that there should be an immediate and urgent drive to give treatment to the patients. A team of doctors under Lala PHC also rushed to the spot today morning for offering treatment. Meanwhile Hailakandi district administration have taken the issue seriously. Tapan Chandra Gowami, Deputy Commissioner Hailakandi has ordered the Joint Director health to send the NREM mobile van in the area for speedy treatment. According to a source at least 75 to 100 people are now in a critical condition. Some of them have antric , rest are the victim of some other disease carried by water. The administration source told that no lapse in treatment will be tolerated. A magisterial enquiry will be set up if the situation becomes more serious due to negligence of the Health department, the source added. Banabasi Kalyan Asram has submitted an memorandum to DC Hailakandi to send sufficient medicine with doctors to the remote villages.