At least 10 persons,including women and children (according to official sources eight) have died in the past one week from diarrhoea and vomiting. Official sources said that a diarrhoea epidemic struck the town often comtamination of the drinking water supply with sewerage leading to the hospitalisation of more than 200 persons in this town and at hospitals in Ludhiana. More than 700 persons have been affected by water-borne diseases.