The only government-aided relief camp in the Muzaffarnagar district has so far seen 16 deaths after it opened to shelter victims following the September riots in the area, official sources said.

The camp at Loi presently houses more than 2,000 riot victims of which approximately half are children.

Sixteen deaths have taken place at the camp due to ailments and medical causes, sources added.

They also revealed that 39 children have so far been born to victims at the riot camp.

A high-level official panel had yesterday said that a total of 4,783 "displaced" people were still living in relief camps for riot victims in the area.

Riots in September had left over 60 people dead and rendered thousands homeless.