Kolkata: BJP functionaries sparred over the rise in dengue numbers on Sunday with reports of at least two persons who had tested positive for dengue passing away in the city’s hospitals in the last four days.BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari said, “Civic services in the last four months have been worse than that during Trinamool times. Will you control dengue by doing photoshoots? Will you control dengue by having press conferences at KMC office?”Tiwari referred to an area in ward 2 where KMC officials did not take urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul when she went to Cossipore for a dengue awareness rally. Tiwari said the ward had 30 ponds that needed attention. He alleged that KMC did not take any action despite him having raised the issue with KMC officials. “I hope the KMC will wake out of its slumber,” he said.Responding to Tiwari, Paul said she went to Cossipore because she was told by KMC officials that it was the worst-affected area in Kolkata. “Tiwari may be talking about a specific place. I will talk to him and, if required, will visit that place, too,” she said.However, Bengal health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said whether the two deaths can be attributed to be dengue deaths can only be known after the audit. He also said while there is no cause for concern on dengue the state continues to remain on “yellow alert” for the next couple of months.Health officials said the dengue death toll this year has reached 13 but added that the situation was under control.
