As the entire machinery battles the Covid-19 pandemic, the health wing of the Municipal Corporation has activated its machinery to prevent the city residents from other vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya.

Deepak Kumar, an MC worker, said when most people were indoors, they were on their job to prevent the residents from these diseases by carrying out fogging exercise on a regular basis.

He said apart from spraying sodium hypochlorite solution in residential and other vulnerable areas, they were urging residents to take precautions as the dengue season was knocking on doors. They had been urging them to clean up water tanks, dry up waterlogged corners and sanitise houses on a regular basis to keep both unwanted guests... corona and dengue— away.

“Earlier, the MC used to conduct the fogging exercise during July after the monsoon. But due to the Covid-19 threat, the officials decided to initiate fogging earlier. Now we have four scooter-equipped machines and conducting regular fogging in the walled city areas and slums”, said Deepak Kumar.

Apart from fogging, Deepak has also been disinfecting the localities as per demand. “I start my job early in the morning and return home around 7 pm. I spend 12 hours in the field. During the lockdown, the MC provided us gloves, masks and sanitisers. Residents also recognise our work and honour us in several ways,” said Deepak.

He said the MC also had four jeep-equipped fogging machines for the outer city areas, while scooters were more effective in narrow streets. “We work as per the roster prepared by senior officials. Sometime we do get some special assignments of disinfecting residential apartments in the containment areas. The MC provides all safety equipment. Despite some risks, I am doing my job with the utmost responsibility.”