The BBMP first downplayed the suspected dengue deaths and the spread of the disease across Bengaluru. Now, the civic body is allegedly playing dirty by threatening hospital authorities to refrain from giving reports about positive dengue cases. On Saturday, two more people succumbed to dengue fever in the city taking the toll so far to seven. Aftab Alam (21), a resident of Nagavara, and Manjula (26) of Herohalli in Madeshnagar died on Saturday afternoon. Tension prevailed at Dr B.R. Ambedkar hospital in Kadugondanahalli as relatives and family members of Aftab resorted to road blockade alleging high-handedness of the hospital authorities and accusing them of distorting the medical report. They alleged that the BBMP authorities are browbeating hospitals into denying the spread of dengue.
Aftab was employed as a sales representative with a private company. He was suffering from high fever and was admitted to the hospital about 10 days ago. He was diagnosed with dengue symptoms about five days ago. The doctors at the hospital were treating him for dengue and even administered him blood platelet supplements. The death certificate issued by the hospital read that Aftab died of dengue shock syndrome. The hospital authorities claimed that Aftab died due to thrombocytopenia and not due to dengue. The other victim, Manjula, was admitted to KIMS with fever. After she was diagnosed positive for dengue she was shifted to Shekar hospital in Basavanagudi and kept in ICU for treatment. She died at 1 pm on Saturday. Her blood sample has been sent to NIMHANS for additional tests and BBMP has been informed about the dengue death, said the hospital authorities.