Agartala - At least 14 people died and several more were taken ill after a mysterious disease struck Tripura in the past one week, officials said here Thursday. "After getting reports of death due to some mysterious disease during the past one week, we have sent medical teams to the affected Longtharai valley areas of Dhalai district to find out the cause," a Tripura health department spokesman said.

Longtharai valley, 90 km north of here, is an inaccessible area dominated by tribal people.

"Most of the people died in about 24 hours time after showing symptoms of fever and some black spots on their skin," the official said.

At least 70 more people are suffering from similar ailments in the area.

"The medical teams have collected blood samples to find out the cause of the disease," the official said.