Agartala, July 11 (TIWN): The malaria epidemic today worsened with death of four more people confirmed from Jampui in North Tripura district; Silachari and Jolaibari of South Tripura district and Takarjala of Sepahijala district, official sources said.The official death toll today rose to 66. Unofficial records, however, pegged the death toll at 146.An official communiqué said later this evening that 1,101 fever patients were freshly diagnosed with malaria parasite across the state today, raising the total figure of malaria infected patients to 28,491.

A highly placed source in the Department of Health and Family Welfare said that Kkasmaiha Reang (1.6) died at the Jampui Primary Health, Keochai Mog (9) from Ailmara of Silachari in Gomati district died at the Silachari PHC, Rathamela Tripura (4) of Abhangacherra of South Tripura district died at Jolaibari Primary Health Centre (PHC). Biswa Debbarma (32) from Gabardi of Takarjala in Sepahijala district died at the GB Hospital today.

Health Minister Badal Choudhury today visited Manubazaar PHC of Sabroon, Jolaibari PHC, Kolacherra PHC in South Tripura district and took stock of the latest situation relating to availability of anti malaria drugs and special diet to malaria patients.

He stressed on full support to malaria patients starting from admitting them in hospitals from their households following door-to-door inspection till full treatment and transporting them back home.

Procurement of anti malaria drugs is continuing inside and outside the state today. Drugs consignments recently arrived from Haryana, Orissa, Assam and Karnataka. The state government wrote to the Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to approve more anti malaria drugs for Tripura. Further medicine consignments would be arriving soon.