To deal with the ever increasing diarrhoea patients in Dhaka city, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and the army medical staff are thinking about launching a temporary hospital at the Uttara Haji Camp.

Even though the number of diarrhoea patients is increasing every day, only 11 patients checked into the 100-bed emergency diarrhoea unit in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) since its opening Saturday.

Sources claim the DMCH unit has inadequate facilities. A number of patients and their relatives said the diarrhoea unit could not even supply adequate number of saline.

Refuting the allegations, Director of DMCH Brig Gen Abdus Shahid told The Daily Star, "People feel more comfortable at the ICDDR,B since it is a specialised hospital... but we have enough supply of oral and cholera saline."

Around 900 diarrhoea patients were admitted to the ICDDR,B in 24 hours ending yesterday evening.

When asked, if any patients had cholera, Dr Prodip Bardhan, acting chief physician at the ICDDR,B told The Daily Star that none of the patients were diagnosed yet to see if they had cholera. "How could you tell if patients came with cholera germs or not?

" he said.

Meanwhile, official figures of the flood-related death toll varied in the Health Directorate report and the Press Information Department (PID) reports. The Health Directorate sources said the number of casualties is 346 while the PID is saying 268 people died till yesterday.

Admitting the discrepancies between the Health Directorate and PID reports, Director of Disease Control Prof Moajjem Hossain told The Daily Star, "Yes, there is a gap... for health issues only the concerned department can give reliable answers. It is better to let other bodies do their own jobs like relief distribution.

He said currently diarrhoea patients are getting treatment at 2,991 oral re-hydration therapy (ORT) corners of union-level government hospitals.

Other water-borne diseases are spreading at an alarming rate in the country. Seven died of respiratory tract infections (RTI) that infected 6,032 people while 7,679 people contracted skin diseases and 1,285 others contracted eye infections since July 30, according to a Health Directorate source.

The overall flood situation of the country has improved, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

Flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Chandpur and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is likely to continue improving further in the next 24-72 hours.

The flood situation in the districts of Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj and Gazipur is also likely to improve as the Meghna is receding.

All the five small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj saw a fall in water levels and are expected to fall further in the next few days, the FFWC said.

The water level of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna fell significantly at all points and the Jamuna was flowing 12cm above danger level at Aricha. The FFWC expects the Jamuna to go below the danger level at Aricha in 24 hours.

The Padma was flowing 42cm and 40cm above danger levels at Goalundo and Bhagyakul and is likely to recede further.

The Disaster Management Bureau sources said this year the flood affected 21,88,977 families in 199 upazilas of 33 districts.

The flood destroyed crops on 6,32,959 acres of land and damaged crops on 5,93,641 acres. Around 2,279km of roads were destroyed while, 16,983km of roads were damaged.

At least 74km of embankments were completely destroyed and 624km of embankments were damaged. Thirty-five bridges and culverts were destroyed while 635 were damaged.

Three people died in Chandpur yesterday, they all drowned, a correspondent in Chandpur reports.

They drowned were identified as Mosammat Jannat, 3, of Upadhi, Md Asif, 3, of Bakra and Ulfatenessa, 70, of Horion under Matlab upazila.

A total of 82 people contracted diarrhoea in Kochua, Hajiganj, Haimchar, Shahrasti, Matlab, and Sadar upazilas.

Gaibandha had 295 new diarrhoea patients yesterday taking the total diarrhoea patients of the district to 3,368, our Gaibandha correspondent reports.

Trishna Rani, 7, drowned in floodwater at Kumiradanga of Shaghata upazila.

Agriculture Extension Department of the district is preparing seedbeds for Amon seedlings on 12 acres for distribution among the flood-ravaged farmers. It has also taken up a crop diversification scheme in the worst flood-hit Fulchhari upazila.