In an overdrive to combat the dengue menace, the civic authorities of south Dum Dum on Monday have broken the locks of five abandoned houses at Bapuji Colony in ward number 23 and sprayed disinfectants.
The dengue situation in Dum Dum is extremely worrisome with a large number of cases being reported daily.
According to civic sources, out of 35 wards in south Dum Dum, 43 cases have been registered of late and out of these, 24 persons have been admitted to hospitals.
The civic sources said in 35 wards, the number of abandoned houses is pegged around 50.
Despite serving several notices to these house owners, when they failed to react, the health department, under the civic authorities, spearheaded by the chairman-in-council, Sanjay Das, took the step on Monday.
A civic authority source said, “Despite several notices when these house owners did not pay a heed, we were forced to take action in the larger interest of the area. However, after the mission, we locked up these premises with new locks.”