Nearly two months of Tarai bandh and Indian-imposed blockade has created a shortage of medicines needed for emergency services in the district. Arrival of new stock of medicines has stopped as few vehicles are plying on the road due to shortage of fuel. District Hospital Udaypur's chief Dr Chuman Lal Das said that there has been a shortage of medicines and chemicals necessary for surgery, laboratory, X-ray and emergency treatment. Dr Das added shortage of chemicals to cross-match the blood for the patients needing surgery and anesthetizing them are not available affecting the operation. At hospital store and counter, since last week, there is no stock of iron pills given to pregnant women. He added that they were bringing medicines on motorcycles alternatively from Lahan and Biratnagar but shortage of medicines in those places and insecurity on the road made the option a difficult one. The consumption of medicines increased also because many patients heading out of the district are now stuck because of unavailability of means of transportation. The situation is aggravated by outbreak of viral fever. Nearly 300 patients come to the District Hospital now of which 60 per cent have viral fever. Dr Das said that more children, women and elderly are found to be affected by the health problem. The in-flow had overwhelmed the hospital forcing it to keep the patients in desk and bench.