Second dengue-related death in Howrah in 5 days, residents demand action

Howrah has been facing a pressing health crisis with the occurrence of a second dengue-related death within just five days. Neetu Singh, the first victim, lost her life last Thursday while seeking medical care at a private hospital located in the Golabari police station area. The second fatality is attributed to Atish Kumar Singh, who resided in Ward No. 29 on Rameshwar Maliya Lane. Atish was admitted to a private hospital in Howrah due to a severe fever, but his health deteriorated, and he tragically passed away on a Tuesday morning.

Local residents, distraught by these recent deaths, have expressed their frustration towards Howrah Pour Sabha, the local governing body. They claim that the drains in the area are not regularly cleaned, and essential preventive measures, such as bleaching or spraying mosquito repellent, are not being implemented. As a result, the locality has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, heightening the risk of dengue transmission. Residents argue that the local administration has not initiated any meaningful actions to mitigate these concerns. They also contend that public representatives are largely absent unless elections are approaching, leaving communities without adequate support and resources.

The news of the second dengue-related death prompted a response from the Howrah municipal corporation. In the wake of this tragedy, a meeting was convened with sanitation workers and health professionals to address the growing health crisis and explore strategies to combat the dengue outbreak.

The community is looking to local authorities for effective, long-term solutions to prevent further dengue-related fatalities and protect the well-being of Howrah's residents.