Jammu, Sep 21 (IANS): Over 50 people have fallen ill due to gastroenteritis disease in Bhaderwah town of Jammu region, officials said on Monday.

"At least 50 patients have been suffering due to abrupt spread of gastrointestinal infection in Udrana, Gatha, Dandi and other half a dozen parts of the Bhaderwah town," a health department official told IANS.

"The patients are being treated in the sub-district hospital Bhaderwah and proper medical care is being provided by the health department," the official said.

"Two seriously infected patients have been shifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu city and one woman has been shifted to Pathankot," he said.

The people of the area hold Public Health Engineering (PHE) department responsible for spread of the disease, and say the drinking water supplied to the town is unsafe and hence responsible for spread of the water borne disease.

Bhaderwah block medical officer (BMO) Yudvir Singh Kotwal said around 50 patients have been admitted to the hospital due to gastroenteritis.

The BMO has advised people to drink properly boiled water and avoid eating unripe and over ripe fruits.