Tamil Nadu has recorded 21,655 dengue cases and 10 deaths since January 1 this year, state minister Arunraj said during an inspection of fever-prevention and mosquito-control measures in Chennai on Thursday. With the northeast monsoon expected to begin, the government has asked residents to prevent water stagnation and cooperate with local dengue-control operations.
The minister visited a fever-prevention medical camp in Vadapalani and inspected door-to-door dengue-prevention work. He said the measures were being undertaken as a precaution ahead of the seasonal rains, when stagnant water can create conditions for mosquito breeding.
According to the figures cited by the minister, the 21,655 cases were confirmed across Tamil Nadu from January 1 until October 7. Ten people have died from dengue during the same period. The statement did not provide a district-wise breakdown or details of the number of patients currently undergoing treatment.
The government has appealed to residents to ensure that water does not collect on household terraces and in other areas around their properties. The minister said public cooperation was essential to dengue-control efforts. He also said a fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed where water accumulation is found to have contributed to the breeding of dengue mosquitoes.
The announcement places household-level prevention alongside municipal field operations. The inspection in Vadapalani included door-to-door checks, while the wider response involves mosquito-control activity and fever-prevention camps. The measures are aimed at reducing breeding opportunities before and during the monsoon period, when rainwater can accumulate in containers, terraces, drains and other urban locations.
The minister also said Chief Minister Vijay had instructed officials to complete canal works in Chennai quickly. The statement did not specify which canals were covered, the revised completion dates or the agencies responsible for the work. The link between canal maintenance and the broader monsoon-preparedness programme was presented as part of the city’s preventive measures before the rains.
In a separate response, Arunraj said a hospital had been issuing medical updates on the health of V.S. Babu, a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLA who has been undergoing treatment for a prolonged period. He said the government was asking for a current medical report on the MLA’s condition. No further details about the treatment or the MLA’s health were provided.
The minister’s comments came during a media interaction after the Vadapalani inspection. The government has asked residents to remove stagnant water and support the ongoing mosquito-control work as the seasonal rains approach.
