Fever has been playing havoc in four villages of the Hospet taluk, which falls in the the home district of Health Minister B Sriramulu. Majority of the 350 houses in Bhuvanahalli has at least one patient.

Some are being treated at the temporary primary health centre set up in the village while some more have been shifted to VIMS. Shankaramma, a pregnant woman fell prey to fever leaving behind two little children. The situation is no different in the neighbouring Gadiganur village. Residents have been thronging hospitals in droves for treatment.

The Gram Panchayat staff said that the fogging machine purchased two years ago had been malfunctioning and the Chinese-made equipment cannot be repaired.

Seven have died of fever in Kotaginahalu. Mohan Reddy died of fever in Dharmasagara and now complaints of diarrhoea are also being reported. Villagers alleged that no preventive steps have been taken so far except spraying of DDT, that too during the visit of the minister.