Seven more deaths in Lucknow, dengue toll reaches 68

State health department claimed situation was mostly under control although people alleged lack of basic preventive measures

With dengue claiming seven more lives here in Uttar Pradesh capital in the last 24 hours, the toll in the city stands at 68 on Thursday. The government claimed things were "under control" although there was panic among patients.

At least 63 new patients were admitted on Wednesday and 216 tested positive for dengue in the Elisa test -- confirmatory pathological test for dengue, an official of the health department told IANS.

More than 1,000 cases were reported from various parts of the city.

The latest deaths included that of Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department M.P. Singh, who passed away at the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday.

The state health department claimed that the situation was "by and large under control" although people alleged that even basic preventive measures -- fogging and spray of anti-larva pesticide -- was not carried out.

The designated malaria wing of the health directorate is reportedly ill-equipped and short of manpower to take on the spread of vector borne diseases, said insiders.

There was only one person for every five lakh population, who sprayed pesticides on a bicycle.