More than 40 security personnel staying in temporary government accommodation in Gandhinagar have been hospitalised with fever and suspected mosquito-borne illness, while a 26-year-old CRPF jawan from Assam died during treatment, according to a report by Nav Gujarat Samay. The exact cause of death is pending post-mortem examination, and the report has described the illness as suspected dengue.
The personnel had arrived from different states for parade rehearsals linked to the National Unity Day programme scheduled at the Statue of Unity on October 31. They were accommodated in under-construction government housing in Sectors 28 and 29 of Gandhinagar, where several residents reportedly began developing fever and dengue-like symptoms during the week.
The CRPF jawan’s condition reportedly worsened during treatment. He was moved to a special ward at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, where he died on the morning of October 8, the report said. His body was sent for post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
Following the death and hospitalisation of the personnel, senior CRPF and police officials reached the civil hospital. The incident also prompted the local health department and Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation to begin response measures at the accommodation site.
Health officials and civic authorities have started spraying insecticide and taking steps to control mosquito breeding and infestation in the housing complex. The accommodation is still under construction, and the personnel had been staying there temporarily while preparing for the National Unity Day parade.
The reported cluster has brought attention to the health risks associated with temporary accommodation in a construction-area setting, particularly when large groups are housed together during an organised event. The supplied report does not provide laboratory confirmation of dengue, details of the mosquito-control inspection, or the number of cases that tested positive for the disease.
The immediate response is focused on treatment, mosquito-control operations and monitoring the affected personnel. Further clarity on the death and the illnesses is expected after the post-mortem examination and any diagnostic testing conducted by the health authorities.
