Dengue cases in the UT are on a steady rise, with 411 infections reported so far this year, and municipal areas continue to remain the worst-hit pockets. The current year, extraordinary in terms of nature’s fury with incessant rains and floods battering both plains and mountains, has only worsened the risk. Water remains logged in many localities even weeks after heavy downpours, and almost every pit is brimming, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Against this backdrop, official claims of preventive measures fall woefully short of ground realities. The JMC has highlighted two rounds of fogging in city localities, with the third round underway. Yet, the picture in the rain-ravaged bylanes tells a different story. Residents across many areas have yet to witness fogging operations, making the official narrative of measures taken slightly too optimistic. The fact is that the steady climb in recent days points towards an alarming upward trend.
Municipalities and local bodies cannot afford to rely on routine measures at a time when the situation is anything but routine. More manpower must be deployed urgently to clear stagnant water and clogged drains. Every pothole filled with rainwater is a potential danger, and unless these water bodies are drained, fogging alone will remain a half-hearted solution. Unfortunately, affected people themselves are in no position to focus on disease prevention-their priority remains survival and rebuilding homes after the floods. This makes it imperative for the administration and health agencies to shoulder the responsibility more seriously.
Equally, fogging in congested bylanes and interior clusters must be undertaken on a war footing. Preventive action delayed today could translate into a major health crisis tomorrow. Civil society, too, has a role. NGOs presently engaged in distributing relief material should be roped in to spread awareness about dengue prevention, ensuring people take simple but effective steps such as covering water storage containers and using repellents. Dengue is not just another seasonal illness; it is a preventable crisis that becomes lethal when ignored. The warnings are already visible in the rising case graph. What is needed now is not complacency but swift, decisive, and coordinated action. Timely measures today can save lives tomorrow.
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