Suspected dengue deaths scare Sahnewal residents

Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, November 18

Suspected dengue deaths in Sahnewal has alarmed the residents who believe that poor civic amenities and negligence of the Nagar Council and health officials is the reason for its spread.

Deaths of Beant Singh, a 24-year-old youth and Poonam Devi have created a situation of panic in the town. “The town seems to be left entirely at the mercy of God as the nagar council is least bothered to ensure cleanliness. The nalas over-flowing with sewer and lack of regular fogging is aggravating the situation. Mosquitoes and flies are making residents ill but the council is least bothered about cleanliness.”

We have asked authorities time and again but they do not bother to clean the place properly. People are suffering from high fever. When platelet count falls, it is but natural for the patients to be alarmed, said residents

“The state of affairs is that no authority is bothered to take any sort of initiative. The health department seems to have given up altogether. Health awareness camps are conducted inside the hospital with few chairs placed around and photographers and reporters arranged beforehand for the purpose. No steps have been taken till date by the department to spread awareness regarding symptoms or prevention of dengue or other water borne diseases. Nobody came to check our coolers, pots or to make the residents aware of the symptoms and the precautionary measures of any sort of aliment they may fall a prey to,” rued residents of Sahnewal.

District Epidemiologist Dr Ramesh said, “No dengue death has been reported. Sometimes people take fall in platelet count as dengue but there may be several other reasons and people should not panic.”

EO Balvir Singh said, “Fogging is being conducted in the wake of suspected dengue death and we have increased our efforts to keep the town disease free.”