indore at least 270 people have died of diarrhoea and 1314 lakh people have been affected due to diarrhoea in the last three years in madhya pradesh data obtained from directorate general of health services reveals that the numbers of diarrhoea cases in the state are continuously rising since past three years the number of acute diarrhoeal cases almost doubled from 290705 reported in 2011 to 535012 in 2013 the numbers of deaths have remained in double digits over the years more alarming is the fact that a large number of cases go undetected or unreported experts say the number of diarrhoeal deaths could be even higher than what is recorded by health authorities they fear there is no doubt that there are more diarrhea cases reported now than a few years ago these are all related to unhygienic drinking water and eating at small food joints where owners do not practice even the minimum hygiene says dr deo patodi a retired health department official experts hold civic bodies responsible for the spike in diarrhoea cases they say the civic bodies have failed to supply safe drinking water unauthorized roadside eateries across the state too add to the spiraling number of cases they say children are more vulnerable to diarrhoea because of unsafe water poor sanitation lack of hygiene and open defecation combined with malnutrition the vicious cycle of malnutrition and diarrhoea is a major contributor to mortality under five years of age experts say ground water in most districts has become unsuitable for drinking a report by central ground water board cgwb reveals my advice is to only drink boiled water to prevent disease outbreak dr patodi says who now offers voluntary health services according to the world health organisation who over 23 million children below the age of five years die in india each year of these 2 to 3 lakh deaths are attributable to diarrhoea alone this is of grave concern as children under5 year age are more prone to diarrhoea and related deaths dehydration alters the bodys natural balance of water and electrolytes sometimes leading to death treating diarrhoea with oral rehydration salts and zinc at the earliest helps in preventing or controlling dehydration and could reduce child diarrhoeal deaths by 90 says dr sharad thora paediatrician and head of department mgm college simple steps like clean drinking water regular hand washing closed sanitation breastfeeding and healthy infant and young child feeding practices can prevent diarrhoea vaccination against rotavirus washing vegetables with potassium permanganate can also prevent the disease the experts advice