17-year-old girl dies of dengue in Bhayander

A 17-year-old girl died of dengue at a private hospital in Bhayander on Friday, after suffering high fever for a few days.

The girl, Sidhika Barsinghe, was being treated by local doctors in Navghar where the family resides. When her condition got serious, she was admitted to Ashwini hospital on Thursday. She passed away at about 5am on Friday, the hospital said.

The family has blamed the Mira-Bhayander municipal authority for neglecting the case. "We informed civic officials about my daughter's condition, but they neither visited our residence nor provided us any help," said Milind Barsinghe, the girl's father.

It's the first death due to dengue in the Mira-Bhayander area after a 42-year-old man died in July last year at Mira Road.

Residents said that the civic authority did not show any interest in the case. "The civic officials have not bothered to survey the area and have not undertaken any measures necessary to prevent the outbreak of malaria, dengue or such serious diseases," said Pooja Mhatre, a resident of Navghar.

Dr Pramod Padwal, health officer, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation, confirmed the death of the girl due to dengue. "We have started preventive measures and are identifying mosquito breeding spots. We will undertake proper fogging and such incidents will not happen in the region."