Leaders visit Thanzamasora village, promise road, health centre

Merinews, 30 March 2011, http://www.merinews.com/article/leaders-visit-thanzamasora-village-promise-road-health-centre/15846343.shtml

By Paritosh Chakma

FOLLOWING THE death of six Chakma tribals due to mysterious diseases at Thanzamasora village in Lunglei district in south Mizoram, three top political leaders, Minister of State Nihar Kanti Chakma, Parliamentary Secretary, S Laldingliana and Chief Executive Member of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), Kali Kumar Tongchangya, visited the village on March 26, 2011.

As Thanzamasora village is inaccessible by roads, these leaders along with a team of doctors had to track down the hills from Lalnuntui, with the nearest village having road connectivity 8 km from Thanzamasora village.

Six tribals who have died during the past fortnight have been identified as Mrs Doyal Lota Chakma (40), w/o of Denga Chakma; Malay Chand Chakma (20), s/o Oguro Send Chakma; Punyo Lota Chakma (45), w/o Amar Chakma; Prapha Ranjan Chakma (27), S/o Shanti Lal Chakma; Sumiron Chakma (27), s/o Shanti Lal Chakma, and Mrs Chittiso Chakma (22), w/o Pulin Chakma. 

All of them reportedly suffered vomiting, high fever and headache before their deaths and their bodies turned blue-black after the death which caused panic among superstitious villagers. The villagers believed that the deaths occurred after they were cursed with black magic by a witch from another village. 

However, doctors sent from the Lunglei Civil Hospital suspected the cause of deaths to be cerebral malaria and distributed malaria drugs free of cost.

Earlier, Kali Kumar Tongchangya, CEM, CADC, met all the patients from Thanzamasora undergoing treatment at Kamala Nagar hospital. As per Dr. Arun Singh of Kamala Nagar hospital, two were confirmed case of malaria, one of chicken pox, one of diarrhea and the fifth was diagnosed Septicemia.

The leaders also provided some immediate relief assistance. Minister of State N K Chakma provided Rs. 2,000 to families of each of the deceased and five quintals of rice and assured that Thanzamasora village would be linked with PMGSY funds. Kali Kumar Tongchangya, CEM of CADC provided Rs.20,000 to the villagers being the cost of quota of ration for two weeks. Parliamentary Secretary, S Laldingliana also announced that a Health Sub Centre would be established soon at Thanzamasora village.