BHABUA, July 18 -- Diarrhoea has taken an epidemic form in several villages of the hilly and tribal-dominated Adhaura block in Kaimur district, due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Over 300 poor tribal and forest-dwelling residents-more than 200 of them from Sikri village-have been affected and treated in various private and government hospitals in Kaimur and Khaliyari (Uttar Pradesh). Sikri village, located in the Kaimur hills about 60 km from district headquarters Bhabua, lies on the southwestern border of Bihar and is adjacent to UP, officials said. The plight of villagers came to light after tribal welfare activist and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Pandey Munna visited Sikri on Saturday. A health department team reached the village on Sunday, following the death of a six-year-old tribal girl, Madhuri Kumari, daughter of Rajesh Singh, due to diarrhoea. A health camp has since been set up in the village. Health officials said that at least 131 patients have been treated at the village health camp, 50 at the Adhaura Community Health Centre (CHC), and over 20 at the district hospital in Bhabua. However, the number of patients who sought treatment in neighbouring UP hospitals is yet to be ascertained. The number of cases continued to rise on Tuesday and Wednesday. Adhaura CHC in-charge Dr. Chandan Kumar stated that the outbreak was caused by contaminated drinking water from local sources and fish brought from Kadhar village. Locals said the government's tap water supply and solar lighting system had been defunct for a long time in Sikri and other villages on the plateau. Taking serious note of the situation, Kaimur District Magistrate Sunil Kumar visited the affected area on Wednesday. He instructed Civil Surgeon Dr. Bindeshwari Rajak to ensure proper treatment of all affected persons and take measures to prevent further spread of the disease. The DM also directed officials to immediately restore the tap water supply and solar lighting system and ensure the availability of clean drinking water in the area. Meanwhile, a controversy erupted at Sadar Hospital, Bhabua, on Wednesday night when an auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM) allegedly extorted Rs.800 from the mother of a six-year-old patient, citing test charges without issuing any official receipt or documentation. The woman, Anju Devi of Sikri village, had admitted her son, Ashish Kumar, to the hospital on Friday evening after he was referred from CHC Adhaura in a critical condition. Anju Devi informed activist Om Prakash Pandey, who was visiting the hospital to check on diarrhoea patients and assess the medical arrangements. Pandey reported the incident to the district magistrate, who confirmed that a senior officer had been assigned to investigate the matter and take appropriate action....