KATHMANDU, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- More than 1000 combatants have fallen sick with the epidemic disease that broke out in various cantonment of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)'s "People's Liberation Army."

    According to the National News Agency RSS Tuesday's report, the combatants became ill when diseases such as pneumonia, common cold and gastroenteritis spread in the cantonments in some districts with the onset of winter season in the country.

    The outbreak of epidemic disease was being increased due to the lack of medicines, clothes and necessary materials for accommodation in the camps, said the 6th division commander Prateek.

    Some 40 combatants who were in serious condition have been sent to Surkhet, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu for the treatment and also he accused the government of not making any arrangement for the treatment of combatants.