9 more die of Japanese encephalitis, toll reaches 231

Nine more persons today succumbed to Japanese encephalitis taking the toll in Uttar Pradesh's eastern region to 231, officials said.

The nine were undergoing treatment at BRD Medical College Hospital here, additional director (health) UK Srivastava said.

Four of the deceased hailed from Gorakhpur, two from Kushinagar and one each from Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharth Nagar. One victim hailed from neighbouring Bihar, Srivastava said.

As many as 26 encephalitis patients have been admitted in BRD Medical Hospital since yesterday. At present, 227 patients were being treated in various government hospitals.