BMC yet to accept Yash Chopra died of dengue

While filmmaker Yash Chopra’s death report confirms that he succumbed to dengue, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to accept it.

On Tuesday, the BMC received Chopra’s death report from Lilavati Hospital which mentions the cause of death as “sepses with pneumonia, with multi-organ failure, with dengue”.

But officials from the civic health department said the exact cause of Chopra’s demise will be confirmed after the report is scrutinised by the state-appointed death committee, which comprises doctors from JJ and other hospitals, and medical collages.

“Only three persons have died due to dengue this year. Chopra’s name will added in the records as dengue death only after confirmation from the death committee,” said Dr Arun Bamne, executive health officer.

An official from the health department said the committee is likely to meet next week and the report on the exact cause of death will be released immediately.

“The three deaths due to dengue this year have been certified by the death committee. To confirm death from malaria or dengue, it is procedure,” he added.

Meanwhile, following sharp criticism for the spread of dengue in the city, civic officials carried out a survey at all ministerial bungalows on Tuesday between 8am and 12pm.

Among the bungalows surveyed were Varsha of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Devgiri of NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Dnyaneshwari of industries minister Narayan Rane, Chitrakut of home minister RR Patil, the Raj Bhavan, and the Chief Justice’s Bungalow.

“We were asked by higher-ups about the mosquito breeding spots in the area as it houses ministerial bungalows, Mantralaya and many other high-profile buildings,” said a civic official. “We did not find any mosquito breeding spot, but as a preventive measure we sprayed larvicide everywhere.”