At least 20 tribals have died of diarrhoea in the past week while more than two dozen people have been suffering from the ailment in two Chhattisgarh villages, health officials said Wednesday.
Health Principal Secretary M.K. Raut said a report on the situation was sought from the district collector.
According to health officials, the outbreak of diarrhoea has been reported in Dunga and Handawara panchayats of Narayanpur district, some 100 km from here.
In Potadipara neighbourhood of Dunga Panchayat, 14 deaths from diarrhoea were reported. Six deaths from the same ailment were reported from Handawara's Bedmapara neighbourhood, officials said.
Civil Surgeon M.K. Suryavanshi, posted in the Bastar region's headquarters Jagdalpur, said that after receiving the information of outbreak of diarrhoea, a team of doctors and health workers was sent to the affected villages.