KANPUR: With 20 more deaths being reported from the Kanpur Dehat region during the last 24 hours, the mystery fever continued to take a heavy toll, especially among the poor Dalit families.

However, the state health minister and the four MLAs of the region - three from BSP and one from SP - have so far not cared to visit the region despite the fact that 70 per cent of the victims are Dalits.

On Wednesday, TOI visited primary health centres at Gujrain and Purwa Khurd in Dalit-dominated Sarwankhera block of Akbarpur tehsil but both were locked. Villagers claimed that two PHCs had remained non-functional for the last six months.

The pharmacist and the nurse deployed at these centres were seldom available, they said. As a result, patients were being rushed to the district hospital.

Pointing his finger towards the PHC at Gujain, Abdullah, who lost his wife Zain on Wednesday, said, "the dispensary has remained closed since the outbreak of mystery fever."