In last 24 hours, eight children died due to suspected water-borne diseases in the Murshidabad district, raising the toll to 25 in the last seven days. 

Doctors in sub divisional hospitals were on leave for Durga Puja, due to which cases were referred to the Berhampore Sadar Hospital, resulting in overcrowding. At the Sadar hospital patients were lying on the floor and sharing beds with others, undergoing utter negligence, explained Superintendent Bhaskar Samanta.

A number of children, in the age group of one to one and a half year, belonging to rural areas had been admitted in very serious condition.