Ludhiana district records highest single-day spike of 122 dengue cases

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27

The Ludhiana district recorded the highest single-day spike this year as 122 fresh cases of dengue were confirmed here today. Of them, 107 cases have been reported from Ludhiana urban areas, including 93 from Ludhiana city, one from Khanna and 13 from Jagraon, while 15 cases were from rural areas of the district.

Amid allegations of opposition against inadequate fogging to control mosquitoes that spread dengue, the cases were reported from Gurdev Nagar, Rishi Nagar, Model Town, Giaspura, Kakowal Road, Janta Nagar, Himmat Singh Nagar, BRS Nagar, GTB Nagar, Garewal Road, Dares Road, Amarpura, Durgapuri, Cambrian Road, Shivaji Nagar, Green Park, Chander Nagar, Shivpuri, Agar Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Ajit Nagar, Tagore Nagar, Churpur Road, Aman Park and Sant Vihar.

The Health Department said 1,026 dengue cases had been confirmed till date in the district. Besides, 2,656 suspected cases had been reported.

Questions are being raised by opposition parties over “inadequate” fogging in the city. SAD Ludhiana urban president Harbhajan Singh Dang said a large number of dengue cases were being reported but fogging was not being conducted properly for controlling mosquitoes for the prevention of dengue in the city.

“In every area, fogging should be conducted with big machines at least thrice a week. Currently, fogging is not being done properly even once a week. The material that is provided for small fogging machines is not enough. The MC should intensify the fogging drive,” he said.

A BJP leader, advocate Bikram Singh Sidhu, on Tuesday submitted a complaint to the MC Commissioner, alleging that the civic body had failed to ensure proper fogging in many parts of the city. He said fogging was not being conducted timely to control mosquitoes in many areas despite rise in dengue cases in the city.

“Besides a few localities, majority of the areas are neglected in terms of cleanliness drive and fogging. The stagnant water puddles have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes larvae, thus leading to a constant increase in dengue and malaria cases. If the Municipal Corporation fails to address these issues at the earliest, party members and office-bearers will stage a dharna against the corporation,” he said.

There is no arrangement to conduct fogging in many areas outside the Municipal Corporation limits also.