Political parties trade charges while chikunngunya cases rise in Delhi

On Monday, a 65-year old man from Ghaziabad died of chikungunya at New Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital, the first victim of the vector-borne disease in the national capital, according to media reports.

One suspected chikungunya death has also been reported at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), but hospital authorities have not yet confirmed it, reported ND TV on Monday.

Zee News on Tuesday posted: As per reports, two more people have succumbed to chikungunya at Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday, taking the toll to three this year.

The increase in vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue has led to an increase in the number of patient admissions in public and private hospitals, which are running out of beds, according to reports.

Some hospitals have also said that with doctors and other staff affected, they are also running out of manpower, which is also aggravating the situation.

Meanwhile, political parties are trading charges over the spread of chikungunya , dengue and malaria in the national capital.

Tweeted Sharmistha Mukherjee of Congrerss, "CM in Bangalore, Health Minster in Goa....Delhi Bhagwan bharose!"

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is away for throat surgery in Bengaluru while Aam Aadmin Party's (AAP's) Health Minister Sayendar Jain is away in Goa to oversee the party's preparations for next year's state assembly elections, media reported.

When asked about the absence of the Health Minister in Delhi, Kejriwal pointed out that Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is not in the capital either, reported NDTV. 

In a pointed reference to the ongoing spat between the Delhi government and LG Najeen Jung, Kejriwal tweeted o Tuesday, "CM n min left wid no power now, even to buy a pen. LG n PM enjoy all powers wrt Del. LG abroad.Question them for Del."

LG Najeeb Jung is in the US.

"AAP is not doing anything in Delhi but only indulging in blame game," said Mukherjee.

Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister and the man in charge of Delhi during Kejriwal's 10-day visit to Bengaluru, is also away in Finland for an education programme, reported NDTV.

Talking to the media, Sharmistha Mukherjee also said, "Everything standstill owing to conflicting politics. AAP always has been blaming the others- central or opposition or media. Mr Kejriwal's attention is not in Delhi anymore."

Kapil Mishra of AAP blamed the BJP-dominated Municipal Corporation of Delhi or MCD, asking where the "mayor has disappeared," media reported.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda has said the union government is monitoring the situation on daily basis and there is no need to panic. "have asked the MCD to take necessary steps, " he said on Tuesday.