At least 16 people have died and 150 affected in a cholera outbreak in the northeast Indian state of Assam, reported the Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday.

Most casualties were reported from tea garden areas of the state and the victims were down with cholera due to poor hygiene conditions, said the report quoting health officials.

The victims were mostly from six tea gardens in Biswanath Chariali area in Sonitpur district, about 230 km north of Assam's main city of Guwahati. Most victims were down with the disease for the past week, said the report.

Doctors said the epidemic was a result of poor sanitation, unhygienic living conditions and contaminated drinking sources.