Pune has recorded more than 2,000 dengue cases between January and October, while over 600 patients were reported in September alone, prompting the Congress party to warn of a protest outside the Pune Municipal Corporation if immediate control measures are not launched.
The warning was issued by Chandu Kadam, Congress group leader in the municipal corporation, who alleged that the civic administration had failed to contain the rising dengue outbreak. According to a report by Lokmat – Pune, Kadam attributed the increase in mosquito breeding to stagnant water, accumulated waste, blocked drains and poor sanitation in several parts of the city.
Kadam also alleged that the fogging and insecticide spraying undertaken by the municipal corporation had not been effective. The reported increase has occurred during and after the monsoon, when water accumulation and clogged drainage systems can create conditions for mosquito breeding. The figures cited in the report cover the period from January to October, with September accounting for more than 600 cases.
The Congress has demanded a special cleanliness drive in every municipal ward. Its demands include the immediate removal of stagnant water and waste, cleaning of blocked drains, and regular fogging and insecticide spraying in lanes and residential areas. The party has also sought the publication of daily reports documenting these activities.
Kadam further demanded that all municipal hospitals provide dengue NS1 testing, platelet testing and treatment facilities. The NS1 test is used to help detect dengue infection during the early stage of illness, while platelet monitoring is commonly used during clinical management of suspected or confirmed cases. The report did not provide details of the existing availability of these facilities across the corporation’s hospitals.
The Congress has also sought disciplinary action, including suspension where necessary, against officials responsible for areas in which dengue cases continue to rise. The demand places responsibility for disease control not only on health facilities but also on ward-level sanitation, drainage maintenance and mosquito-control operations.
The warning comes as the reported case burden raises questions about how effectively Pune’s municipal systems are coordinating public-health surveillance with routine civic services. Stagnant water removal, waste clearance and drain maintenance require field-level operations across multiple wards, while fogging and insecticide spraying need to be targeted and monitored in areas reporting infections.
Kadam said the party would organise a protest outside the municipal corporation building if concrete and effective measures to control dengue were not initiated. The report did not specify a date for the proposed protest or provide a response from the Pune Municipal Corporation to the allegations and demands.
