Patna: Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav on Friday attacked chief minister Nitish Kumar over the rise in dengue and chikungunya cases in the state.

He accused Nitish of doing nothing to curb the menace and demanded that treatment be made available at AIIMS-Patna instead of Patna Medical College and Hospital.

According to the Bihar State Health Society (BSHS), which falls under the health department, over 1,500 cases of dengue have been reported in the past two months. Similarly, over 500 cases of chikungunya reported positive.

"The state government does not have time for the people suffering from dengue and chikungunya," Pappu said, accusing the chief minister of poor arrangement. "You can imagine the carelessness of the state government when an MLA dies because of dengue. Nitish does not have time to look after these issues and is busy in kharna and yagna. People are dying and Nitish does not have any humanity. Even the Opposition in Bihar is dead and is doing nothing."

Jehanabad's RJD MLA Mundrika Singh Yadav who died on Tuesday was first diagnosed with dengue. But his condition worsened when he fell down and suffered head injuries.

Many areas in Patna, especially Patna City and Kankerbagh, are badly hit by dengue. Pappu accused the Bihar State Health Society of hiding actual figures.

According to him dengue and chikungunya figures had crossed 4,000 and the government was presenting false data. "There are 4,000 cases of dengue and chikungunya and the government is helpless and doing nothing," Pappu said. "I demand that the government come out from religious festivities and dedicate their time to saving lives of people. The state government is Ram Bharose (at the mercy of lord Ram) now. They claim the same party is in power in the state and at the Centre then why isn't the state government talking to the Centre to start treatment of dengue at AIIMS-Patna. There is total failure of the state government."

Health minister Mangal Pandey, however, claimed that the state government had made adequate arrangements for dengue and chikungunya patients. Pandey said the department had taken several steps to prevent spread of dengue and chikungunya in the state. "Proper fogging is taking place in all areas and we are also making platelets available for dengue patient. After a special drive, a blood donation camp was organised at PMCH and Jaya Prabha Hospital and platelets were made available. I have spoken to central officials as well to get kits from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. The kits are useful in diagnosing dengue cases," Pandey said. He added that an advertisement was issued in newspapers two days ago on how to prevent dengue and chikungunya.

Pandey also said that a separate ward has been created at PMCH with 10 beds to treat dengue patients.