They said he was taking treatment from private practitioners in the village without proper diagnosis. He was admitted to a hospital a few days ago, but when his condition showed no improvement, his family brought him back home.

District Epidemiologist Dr Gagandeep Singh, while confirming the deaths, said a team of doctors had been sent to the village and a perusal of the medical reports of the deceased revealed that he was suffering from cirrhosis, as he used to consume alcohol and had contracted jaundice. “Kabul used to consume alcohol even while he was recuperating from jaundice, which proved to be hazardous for him,” he said.

He said, “Hepatitis-c is usually contracted through infection caused by contaminated injections.”