KHAMMAM: With over 312 cases of dengue and as many as 20 deaths due to it, Bonkal mandal in the district has been worst hit by the vector-borne disease. Almost all the private and government hospitals in Bonkal, Vijayawada and Khammam are packed with dengue cases.
As per officials records, as many as 770 dengue cases have been identified in the district till present and of these, 312 have been identified in Bonkal alone. As per information around 4,000 people have been treated for viral fevers at the Government hospital in Bonkal mandal headquarters.
Meanwhile, locals blame the panchayat officials for the spread of the deadly diseases. Thanks to their negligence, the health and sanitation conditions in the mandal are deteriorating. K Rama Rao, a Bonkal resident, said the officials are not taking any steps even as the Wyra project drinking water pipeline is leaking.
N Venkateswara Rao, a resident of Ravinutala village alleged that panchayat officials are not distributing bleaching powder in the village. However, the panchayat officials blamed it on the fund crunch. Lack of funds are forcing us from taking up sanitation works properly, they added. Meanwhile, health officials said that the local doctors (RMP) are not giving proper treatment to patients suffering from fevers. They are giving high dose medicines, as result a result of which patients are suffering.”