Chikungunya claims five lives in Delhi

Chikungunya has so far claimed five lives in Delhi, officials said on Tuesday while doctors were yet to confirm another death suspected to have been caused by the disease.

Four of the five confirmed chikungunya deaths — three on Monday, another on Tuesday — took place at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, officials said. Another person had died due to chikungunya on September 1 at Hindu Rao hospital, but the death was not mentioned in the weekly reports issued by the South Corporation.

On Tuesday, an official with the Hindu Rao Hospital, which is under the North Corporation, confirmed the September 1 chikungunya death.

“A woman died on September 1 and we confirmed the cause of the death and told the authorities on September 6,” he added.

AIIMS authorities are trying to verify whether a death that took place earlier this month was due to chikungunya. If confirmed, the toll would reach six in the city.

The AAP government tried to shift the blame on Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for “appointing incompetent and complacent” officials incharge of health department.
On Tuesday, 75-year-old P Kalra, a chikungunya patient, died of kidney failure at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the evening. The victim, belonging to Mathura, was admitted to the hospital on Monday.

82 patients
A total of 82 patients have been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital till date. “In the last 10 days, 524 samples have been tested for chikungunya. Of this, 293 have been found positive,” said the hospital authorities.
 
Governance a casualty in Delhi
Governance in chikungunya-dengue-hit Delhi seemed to be the biggest casualty as five out of six members of Team Kejriwal were away from the city for most part of Tuesday and Monday, reports DHNS from New Delhi.
Lt Governor (L-G) Najeeb Jung was also away in the US, while two out of the three mayors from the BJP-ruled municipal corporation were also not in the city, even as the death toll in chikungunya cases touched five.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was campaigning in Punjab till Monday evening, reached Bengaluru to undergo a throat operation. His deputy Manish Sisodia is in Finland.