Whenever questions arise about dengue, officials of Kolkata Municipal Corporation's health department argue that Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that carries the disease, must be destroyed at its breeding stage. However, after the pujas, neighborhoods have become a breeding ground for dengue. Accumulated rainwater in the leftover bamboo cavities from Durga Puja pandals has become an ideal breeding ground for Aedes aegypti. The outbreak of dengue increases across the city every year in October and November. Therefore, many are expressing concern that the situation could worsen if swift action is not taken on this matter.
Data from Kolkata Municipal Corporation's health department shows that 589 people were infected with dengue in Kolkata from January 1 to October 5 last year. However, 791 people were infected during the same period of 2025. The municipality's own data reveals signs of rising dengue levels. Kolkata Municipal Corporation has given puja organizers two weeks to dismantle pandals. Even before that deadline ends, the drums of Kali Puja will start beating. The same situation will arise again.
Every year, the outbreak of dengue increases after the rains stop. Officials of the municipality's health department say that if situations arise that harm public health, action will have to be taken against puja committees as well. However, they regret that there is no one to bell the cat. This is because multiple councilors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation hold top positions in multiple Durga and Kali Puja committees.
However, if ideal conditions for breeding dengue mosquitoes are found in any house or plot, Kolkata Municipal Corporation's health department takes legal action against the concerned owner on the grounds of harming public health and collects fines. Every year, the municipality sends a list of recommendations to the city's puja committees to ensure that ideal conditions for dengue are not created around pandals. According to a senior official responsible for the related work, the recommendations are sent every year, but it doesn't achieve much practical results.
However, Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, the mayor-in-council for the health department, said that ahead of Kali Puja, all the puja committees have been alerted to fill up the holes and remove bamboos. We have alerted every puja committee. The officials responsible for the related work have been instructed to keep a strict watch on the situation.
