4 days, 4 deaths: Dengue run spreads panic in Kamarhati

KOLKATA:

Dengue

claimed two more lives in the

Belgharia-Kamarhati area

on the northern fringes of the city since Monday night. While a septuagenarian succumbed at

Kamarhati Sagar Dutta Medical College

on Tuesday morning, a 40-year-old homemaker from Deganga died of dengue on Monday evening, taking the total death toll in North 24 Parganas to 27 in the past three months. The vector borne disease has claimed at least four lives in the Kamarhati Municipality area in the last four days.

In Kamarhati, 71-year-old Banshi Hazra, a resident of Belgharia’s Mohini Mill quarter near Nandannagar at Ward 33, was suffering from fever for five days. After his condition turned serious on Saturday, he was rushed to the Sagar Dutta hospital. But his family members alleged that the hospital had initially refused to admit him, even though tests later confirmed the virus.

“He was discharged on the same day after primary treatment. He was under treatment at home. But his condition worsened suddenly on Monday evening and his platelet count dropped to 62,000 (the normal range is 1.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh). He had severe respiratory distress. We rushed him again to Sagar Dutta hospital and he was admitted this time. But his condition kept deteriorating even as he was put on life support. But the doctors failed to revive him and he died at around 6.45am on Tuesday,” said Shibnarayan Hazra, the victim’s brother.

According to locals, at least 22 more persons in the Mohini mill quarters area have tested positive for dengue. “Multiple deaths in Belgharia-Kamarhati area have left us scared. The dreaded virus has already spread in our locality. You can find at least one affected person at almost in every home. But the local civic authority are still reluctant,” said Samiran Basak, a local resident.

CPM councillor Rituparna Mitra of Ward 33, however, alleged that she was facing problems on providing civic amenities as she belongs to the opposition party. “Around 10,000 people live in my ward. But only six workers are engaged here to sweep such a vast area. Despite my repeated appeals, the Trinamool-run municipal authority doesn’t cooperate,” Mitra said.

When contacted, Gopal Saha, the chairman of the Kamarhati municipality, however, told TOI on Tuesday evening, “I am busy in a meeting. I am yet to get any confirmation about another dengue death. I will talk with you later.”

Meanwhile, 40-year-old homemaker Deji Dey, a Deganga resident, died of dengue at a private hospital in New Town. According to her family members, she was suffering from fever since Friday morning. “She was first admitted to Barasat district hospital, where she was detected with dengue virus. But she wasn’t being treated properly there. She was then taken to a Barasat nursing home. But her condition kept deteriorating since Sunday evening. Then she was admitted to a New Town hospital on Monday afternoon. But she died around 8.30pm on Monday,” said Dipak Dey, the victim’s brother-in-law.