TIMES NEWS NETWORK [SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 02:34:52 AM]

BARACHATTI (GAYA): More than 15 starving Dalits have died in drought-hit Barachatti and Mohanpur blocks of Gaya district, some of them after consuming the carcass of a goat in desperation. Starvation and disease stalk a vast population here and the total lack of medicare is adding to the toll of human lives.

"People are dying like flies. We fear many more deaths in the coming days," remarks Baleshwar Yadav of Barwadih village resignedly. The words have a chilling ring of truth.

The TOI correspondent on Friday watched people dying, with foam trickling down their mouths and nostrils and their fingers twisted. In Jalhi village alone, 13 deaths have been reported. Overall, over 25,000 people are said to have fled their homes in Mohanpur block. Scenes of unimaginable agony abound, village after village.

As we enter Jalhi, news of Hiraman Manjhi's son Baldeo (4) meeting a painful death greets us. At the neighbouring Doat village, Kari Devi (40) has just died and the body of Rita Kumari (6), daughter of Sukar Manjhi, is being taken out on its last journey.

At Piprahi, a handful of villagers are returning after performing the last rites of 45-year-old Dasrath Manjhi. "The situation is horrible," says Ishwar Manjhi at Jalhi. In a span of less than a month, 13 villagers, mostly children, have died, he says.

Most deaths were due to diarrhoea, villagers say. "No doctor ever came here, but from the symptoms we are sure it was diarrhoea," insists Baleshwar Manjhi who himself lost his young son. Other villagers nod in confirmation.
 
Even as Ishwar recalls the names of the victims - Dukni Devi, Gualbo, Dulari, Kaila, Arti, Rinku, Jitender, Dinesh, Kalawati etc - a woman comes rushes in, crying. She whispers something to a person and hurries back. The toll has just risen to 14.

At neighbouring Bongia village, people confess the deaths began after some starving people dug out the carcass of a goat and ate it. Ramji Choudhary says although only a few persons had died in the village, the mostly likely reason was the consumption of spurious meat.

Rambriksh Manjhi, whose father was one of the victims, confirms the account. At least three members of his family are still lying sick, a three-year old child being in a serious condition.