NAWABSHAH, Jan 30: The spread of malaria has assumed alarming proportions in the district because of negligence and inefficiency of the health department officials.

According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, the health department and the taluka municipal administration were least concerned about public health issues, specially regarding maintenance of hygienic conditions and carrying out the spray to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

Doctors, contacted by this correspondent, said that they were treating 30 to 35 patients afflicted by malaria on a daily basis, the majority of whom were children.

The infestation of mosquitoes has risen sharply after the recent showers, while garbage dumps everywhere in the town were compounding the situation.

A large number of people said that the city’s water supply was tainted by seepage from the drainage lines, creating a serious public health hazard.

They said that several complaints had been made to the taluka Nazim, while some of the taluka council members had staged protests during the council session but nothing had been done to improve the situation.

Meanwhile, th taluka Nazim, Nawabshah, and the EDO (health) were unavailable for comments.