KMC to crack whip against fake dengue alert by pvt firm

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation will take legal action against a private firm for sending fake SMS alerts

saying that different areas in the city have been identified as dengue-prone by the civic authorities.

The message reads: "KMC has put your area on dengue alert. Ensure your family is safe. Spray Kala HIT Lime Fresh to kill deadly mosquitoes."

Criticising the alert, Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh said the KMC will take legal action against the firm.

"KMC has not sounded any dengue alert. It is a deliberate attempt to create panic among the people to increase the sale of their product," Ghosh said. People started receiving the alert on their cell phones on Wednesday. Soon, KMC's Health department was flooded with phone calls.

Ghosh said for the past few years, some groups with vested interest were trying to create dengue panic in the city. But the reality is that the number of dengue cases has gone down considerably.

He said a plan to combat the disease has been chalked out and the areas where there was dengue outbreak in 2018, have been identified. The civic teams are visiting those areas and talking to those afflicted with the disease.

Rallies were held throughout the city on February 2 to create awareness among the people. The KMC is also constantly keeping in touch with the state Health department.