While the Midnapore West district health department has been testing anti-malaria drug on the people of Belpahari, over 10 of them fell ill after consuming the newly-introduced drug. They are being treated in Belpahari Block Primary Hospital where the condition of Mrs Sushmi Karmakar, 35, of Chutiapukhri and Mr Manasaram Desowali, 30, of Dainmari has been reported to be serious. Admitted 16 days ago, the condition of Mrs Karmakar has been deteriorating everyday. Similar is the condition of Mr Desowali. All the affected, also included the headmaster of Murari SC High School, Mr Gunadhar Mahato and a student, Ms Panmoni Hembram, who is also a Madhyamik examinee, complained of spewing, severe tilting of the head and stomach upset. The district health department officials had not deputed any specialists in the hospital to attend these serious patients nor were they given instructions as to what is to be done in case the pills show serious after effects, the patients complained. When contacted, the chief medical officer of the district, Dr KK Bose, however, tried to dilute the alleged negligence of the department officials by saying that they must have consumed the tablets in empty stomach. But the patients said that they had consumed the tablets after taking night meals as advised by the visiting hospital sister, Mrs Smritikana Banerjee, ANM. But there was no message for them from the ANM. However, Mrs Banerjee said she was asked by the block health officials three weeks ago to make arrangement for immediate distribution of the drugs failing which they will be showcaused.But they did not give her any other advice. The CMOH said that Belphari block area are an endemic zone of malignant malaria with four people were claimed by the disease in 2007, 19 in 2007 and a total of around 90 since 1996. Hence, this new drug has been ventured to arrest the malaria menace, Dr Bose said.However, steps are afoot so that nothing fatal happens to the affected, he assured.n SNS