Dengue cases surge in Bengaluru: BBMP chief commissioner calls for stringent measures

With 329 cases of dengue reported within BBMP limits over the past three months, authorities are stepping up efforts to contain the outbreak. Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath has issued directives to penalize those who neglect cleanliness, emphasizing that the onset of rains necessitates immediate precautionary measures.

He stressed the importance of raising public awareness about the disease and warned that individuals failing to maintain hygiene standards will face penalties.

To tackle the situation effectively, Girinath instructed the health department to work in coordination with various departments, including horticulture, forest, solid waste management, and road infrastructure, to prevent water stagnation in any area.

He further called for identifying mosquito breeding sites, conducting fogging operations, and regularly spraying pesticides to control the mosquito population.

Principal Secretary (Health) Harsh Gupta echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for intensified measures in areas with high dengue incidence. He recommended setting up fever clinics in affected localities and imposing fines on property owners who fail to maintain cleanliness in vacant plots and construction zones.

Additionally, he instructed that pesticides be sprayed once a week to control larval breeding. To ensure systematic monitoring, the BBMP has decided to appoint one nodal officer and one entomologist per zone.

The health department will also arrange dengue testing kits to facilitate prompt diagnosis. Special Commissioner (Health) Suralkar Vikas Kishore revealed that Bengaluru reported 15,282 dengue cases in 2024, and a comprehensive zone-wise plan is underway to control the spread.

Last year, Rs 24 lakh was allocated for identifying mosquito breeding sites, and fines have already been imposed on violators.