Patna, Jun 20 (UNI) BJP Rajya Sabha member CP Thakur urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bihar and make on-the-spot assessment of the child deaths, caused by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in various regions of the state, especially in Muzaffarpur, where the dreaded disease has claimed 117 lives, so far.

In a letter written to the Prime Minister, a copy of which was made available to the media on Thursday, Dr Thakur said Mr Modi should visit Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur, which has witnessed the maximum casualties in the state.
'It will hardly take an hour for Mr Modi to come to Bihar,' he remarked. He said majority of children suffering from AES belonged to poor families and so, the Centre should help them financially.

According to Dr Thakur, Muzaffarpur had been witnessing the outbreak of AES for the last 15 years. He said children were getting afflicted with the AES due to the consumption of Litchi and every year, the casualties were growing.

The former Union minister said that a decision on setting up a bio-chemical laboratory should be taken up, to be run by a central institute, adding that it would assuage the frayed tempers of the people.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had to face the wrath of people during his visit to Muzaffarpur on June 18, when he visited the region, he added.

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