A surge in the number of dengue cases in a couple of wards of the Siliguri civic area has put the local civic body on its toes.

Mayor Gautam Deb took stock of the situation on Sunday. He visited the wards with some members of the mayor-in-council on Sunday and instructed them to put in all efforts to curb the menace. According to sources at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), 276 dengue cases were detected in the municipal area since January this year.

“However, most of the cases have been reported in the past couple of months. The situation has become vulnerable in some areas in ward 5 where 27 cases have been detected in the past one month,” said an official.Sources said that ward 4 also reported over 20 dengue cases in the past month.Deb on Sunday spoke with Dulal Datta, the member, mayor in council (health), Manik Dey, the MMIC of the conservancy department, and some civic officials. He then visited wards 4 and 5 and met residents.“I have spoken with residents of Natunpara and Ganganagar (in ward 5), Jyotinagar and Tumolpara (in ward 4) where a number of dengue cases have been recently reported. We will provide all necessary assistance for treatment and food packets to affected families,” the mayor said.Datta, the MMIC of health, claimed that many patients were cured on treatment.

“We are taking precautionary measures to stop the outbreak of dengue and other vectorborne diseases. In all, 136 vector control teams are visiting wards, spraying mosquito larvicide oil and cleaning accumulated waters. Also, 802 teams are conducting house-to-house surveys to make people aware of precautions,” he said.

Deb also trained guns at the Left and Congress who were in power at the civic body. It is only this year that Trinamul has come to power in the SMC.“Those in power at the civic board for decades had neglected conservancy work in these areas. We will take steps to improve the situation. Also, the city’s sewerage will be revamped soon,” said the mayor.