Hyderabad: As many as 38 residents out of 90 residing in posh villas in Lahari Homes in Kondapur have fallen sick over the last fortnight. Most of them showed symptoms or tested positive for dengue.
The problem was caused by stagnation of water at the construction site belonging to a popular private builder. This became a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which entered Lahari Homes.
Among the residents, a professor had to be reportedly rushed to the ICU when his platelet count plunged. Several families have multiple persons suffering from the illness.
Residents said they were staying at the place for a decade but had never faced such an issue.
Homemaker Vasundhara Sripati, who is recovering and has two family members sick with dengue symptoms, said: “We are in the immediate vicinity where the water stagnates. Ours was the first family to be affected. My son and I tested positive for dengue and we are recovering, My husband has taken ill.”
Most residents are reporting symptoms of body rashes, severe joint pains and fatigue. They are using mosquito repellents apart from going for regular blood tests.
Another resident, Ms Aruna Somendra, working in leading software company, said, “About half the people living in this area have fallen sick. At my home, three out of the five family members fell sick including I. We are taking all precautions and going for blood tests regularly. Some of the residents have left their homes considering the gravity of the situation.”
Ms Manita Bayyapu whose in-law tested positive for dengue sent her kids to stay with her parents away from Lahari Homes.
The GHMC entered the scene late, and started fogging the area, and will continue the operation for a week.
The GHMC officials were apparently not allowed to enter the construction site till Friday.
Entomology officials forcefully checked the premises and found dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Some workers on the site repotedly had symptoms of dengue.
A GHMC entomology wing official said, “We have done pest control in the construction area and asked them to keep the premises clean. Not everyone is affected with dengue because of this. We have tested the mosquitoes and confirmed dengue. We are monitoring the situation and wil take another test next week.”
