The National Public Health Laboratory confirmed that the diarrhoea epidemic in Nainhi Village of Jaleshwor Municipality-12, Mahottari, was caused due to coliform and E coli bacteria in drinking water. According to the District Public Health Office, Nainhi villagers had been drinking underground water which was infected by coliform and E coli bacteria. The villagers have been advised to stop using the water after the lab results confirmed the presence of disease-causing microbes, said Santosh Kumar Thakur, public health inspector. The outbreak of diarrhoea in the village had affected around 300 people and claimed two lives. It took weeks for health workers to contian the disease, Rajiv Jha, district public health officer. (RSS)