The threat of dengue looms large in areas of the steel city, such as crowded wholesale hub Jugsalai, nearby Bagbera and Tatanagar station and stretches of the waterlogged Jugsalai-Station Road.

Large stretches of the Jugsalai-Station Road between the railway under-bridge and Pradeep Mishra Chowk are waterlogged. To compound the problem, days-old trash is lying unattended.

East Singhbhum civil surgeon Dr Maheswar Prasad conceded there was a threat of dengue.

“We have received complaints about waterlogging on this stretch, a potential vector breeding spot since the female Aedes aegypti, which is the carrier of the dengue virus, breeds in clean water. We have written today (Wednesday) to both Tatanagar railway authorities and Jugsalai municipality special officer to jointly clear the waterlogged stretch and remove garbage at the earliest,” Dr Prasad said.

Residents complained of mosquito bites throughout the day. “There were virtually no mosquitoes during June and July. However, since August, ever since rains started, mosquito bites are a perennial feature even during the day. We switch on mosquito repellents in every room 24/7,” said Awtar Singh, an auto spare parts retailer at Jugsalai Station Road. However, civic and railway authorities passed the buck.

“We do carry out cleaning intermittently but technically the area falls under the jurisdiction of the railways. Cleaning and spraying of larvicides should be done by railway authorities,” said special officer Jugsalai municipality Surendra Prasad.

Assistant engineer (AEN-1), Tatanagar Railway, Sanjay Kumar admitted that the area fell under their command but claimed cleaning of garbage was not their lookout. “We will see how to get rid of waterlogging in the area as it comes under railways. However, removing trash is not our job. It is looked after by the health department. I will inform the department concerned to remove the garbage,” said Sanjay Kumar.

Senior divisional commercial manager of South Eastern Railway, Chakradharpur, Manish Pathak, however promised action. “If it comes under our jurisdiction we will clear garbage and waterlogging at the earliest. I will speak to officials for early action,” Pathak said. East Singhbhum malaria officer Dr A.K. Lal, who is also the district surveillance officer, said dengue positive cases have increased to 53.

“The number of dengue positive cases has reached 53, with cases primarily from city areas. We have asked all hospitals to send samples immediately for the Elisa confirmatory test. There have been no casualty so far,” Lal said.

He added that two of their quick response teams carried out fogging and sprayed larvicides in localities with dengue cases. Two other teams are spraying of larvicides and fogging based on the roster. “We request all civic bodies to carry out fogging and spray larvicides in their respective areas,” he said.

The characteristic symptoms of dengue are sudden onset of fever, headache typically severe behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and a rash. Dengue’s alternative name of breakbone fever comes from acute muscle and joint pains.