The Shahid Jubba Sahni Central Jail authorities have alleged that waste dumped by Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) adjacent to its boundary walls has led to an outbreak of malaria on the jail campus.

In 2013, BMC had faced public criticism for dumping garbage into river Ganga.

Around 25 prisoners suffering from malaria have been admitted to the jail hospital. The jail has been reporting cases of malaria and dengue.

“Initially, we suspected that prisoner Surendra Yadav was suffering from dengue. But once he was shifted to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital last week, the results of all clinical tests indicated malaria,” said Ramchandar Mahato, the jailer.

He said the jail administration always gives priority to cleanliness inside the jail campus and blamed the incidence of diseases on the dumping of garbage by BMC outside the jail wall.

In a letter to the BMC official concerned, the central jail administration objected to the dumping of waste materials outside the jail boundary.

“Around four days ago, garbage-laden BMC tractors were spotted dumping garbage outside the jail boundary. When the jail employees requested the corporation workers not to do so, the civic workers not only misbehaved with them but also turned aggressive,” said a jail employee.

Jail superintendent Niraj Kumar Jha said: “The garbage makes the air inside the jail campus stinking. Hence, mosquitoes breed easily.”

Mayor Dipu Bhubania feigned ignorance about the case. “I don’t have any knowledge about the case. If malaria has spread in the jail premises, we would arrange for fogging,” he told reporters.