In UP, ten more children have died due to encephalitis in Gorakhpur during past 36 hours. With this the death toll due to encephalitis has gone up to 361 in the eastern region this year. As many as 40 new patients have been admitted to various government hospitals of the region during past 36 hours. This year a total 2341 patients have been admitted to BRD Medical College Hospital in Gorakhpur and adjoining district hospitals. As many as 351 patients are being treated at various government hospitals of the region. Our Gorakhpur correspondent reports that this year most of the deaths have occurred due to acute encephalitis syndrome which is caused due to consumption of contaminated water.The death toll this year has crossed last year’s statistics as three hundred and 40 patients had died last year till date. According to medical experts, the filth and unhygienic conditions in the rural areas are main cause behind the high number of cases. This year negligible cases of Japanese encephalitis have been found but the cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome are mounting. The voluntary agencies are involved in making people aware about sanitation but still a lot of filth and unhygienic condition persists in the rural area where water has been logged due to recent heavy rain.