Even as rising cases of meningococcal meningitis continue to haunt the State, malaria too has taken its toll mostly in border areas. The West Khasi Hills district of the State that detected one suspected case of meningitis so far is fighting the seasonal malaria, surfacing through the migrant population, stagnant waters in coal and charcoal deposits. A visit made by The Sentinel to Riangdo in West Khasi Hills, an emerging village about 137 km from the State capital, saw a number of rising charcoal deposits attracting malarial parasites, which sends an approximately 400 malarial patients a day to Riangdo Primary Health Centre (PHC). Riangdo CHC doctor Z Marak said that the medical centre receives over 140 outdoor patients during the market day. Asked on the rise of meningococcal meningitis, Dr Marak said so far the CHC has not received any meningitis case, but, maintained that he was alerted by the Shallang PHC, that received one suspected case. Referring to the number of malaria cases received by the PHC, Dr Marak said that malaria and tuberculosis are major problems in the district. He said the centre has so far received 18 malaria patients this month. The 10-bed Riangdo PHC even admits more patients than its capacity during the summer season, Dr Marak said, adding, from April 2007, the centre admitted 327 patients and in 2006, 426 patients. The Mawshynrut Block has four PHC