Cerebral malaria is wreaking havoc in West Mizoram claiming at least 12 lives.The worst sufferers are the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) personnel, mostly daily-wagers.

Lack of medical facilities and poor communication in the western part of the State are said to be the major causes behind increasing the number of deaths.The State Government on the other hand claimed that as the populace in the affected areas were most locals, they were naturally inoculated and thus there was minimal casualties.

According to the staff officer (Personnel) of BRTF, the organisation bore the brunt, especially during the monsoon, when its workers had to live in makeshift camps with hardly any precaution against the disease. He said often the organisation found it extremely difficult to supply sufficient numbers of mosquito nets, blankets and chloroquin tablets to far-flung areas during the monsoon. In addition to malaria, the BRTF lost more than 60 of its labourers in accidents including landslides.