Puri: At a time when the state tourism department is celebrating the World Tourism Day with pomp and ceremony, two tourists from Nepal died of diarrhoea at Malatipatpur bus stand, on the outskirts of the city here, Tuesday.
Moreover, eight other tourists from the Himalayan nation, suffering from the disease, have been admitted to an infectious diseases hospital in the city.
The deceased tourists have been identified as Juguri Parsi (70) and Suni Meuri (68).
According to sources, a group of tourists, including a few senior citizens, from Nepal had boarded a bus September 17 to visit various places of religious interest of India. The pilgrims had reached Kolkata September 25 after visiting Ayodhya, Kashi and Vrindaban.
At least 20 tourists in the group were admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata after they suffered from diarrhoea. However, the ailing tourists had resumed their journey without waiting for their total recovery. Consequently, the condition of Parsi, Meuri and eight others deteriorated during the bus journey, sources said.
“Parsi and Meuri died in the bus before reaching Malatipatpur bus stand. Eight other diarrhoea patients have been admitted to the infectious diseases hospital. Doctors who attended the patients are suspecting that food poisoning might have caused diarrhoea among the Nepalese tourists,” said an official of the tourism department.
Sources said Sadar police have seized the bodies of the two Nepalese and send them for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, the chief district medical officer and other health department officials have visited the infectious diseases hospital and enquired about the treatment being provided to the diarrhoea patients.
“We are providing the best available treatment to the Nepalese tourists suffering from diarrhoea. We hope they will recover soon,” said Dr Akhaya Kumar Satpathy of the infectious diseases hospital here.
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