Two residents of the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp near Kadayanallur in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, have died of dengue within days of each other, as a fever outbreak that has reportedly affected more than 50 people continues to alarm the settlement's families. Health and sanitation teams have since stepped up operations at the camp, though residents say the underlying conditions remain unaddressed.

The Two Deaths

Narmala, a 27-year-old woman and wife of Dinesh, died on Tuesday at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital after being diagnosed with dengue. She was a resident of the camp at Boganallur in Kadayanallur taluk. Her death followed that of Rihana Mary, a 13-year-old girl and daughter of Rajan and Saila Sri, who also succumbed to the mosquito-borne infection while receiving treatment at the same government hospital in Tirunelveli.

Scale of the Outbreak

Over the past four weeks, more than 50 residents of the camp have reportedly developed fever and sought treatment at government and private hospitals in the region. The settlement is home to more than 150 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee families who have lived there for approximately 35 years. Residents said fever cases had persisted for nearly a month before the fatalities drew wider attention.

What Authorities Have Done

Following reports of the deaths, health personnel have been deployed to monitor residents at the camp. Local bodies have intensified mosquito-control operations, cleaning drives, and sanitation work in and around the settlement to prevent further spread of the disease. The response, however, has been described as reactive rather than preventive by those living in the camp.

Residents Blame Poor Sanitation

Camp residents alleged that garbage collected from nearby localities was regularly transported and dumped close to the settlement, creating conditions favourable to mosquito breeding. Portions of the accumulated waste were also allegedly being burnt, exposing families — including children — to smoke and worsening the already unhygienic environment.

Residents have urged the district administration and local authorities to immediately clear the waste, halt further dumping, and undertake sustained sanitation work. They have also sought regular fogging, removal of stagnant water, a detailed assessment of mosquito breeding sources, and closer medical surveillance, particularly for children and other vulnerable members of the community.

What Needs to Happen Next

Families at the camp have appealed for fever screening and timely treatment to continue until the outbreak is fully contained. They have stressed that permanent measures are necessary to maintain clean surroundings and prevent further dengue cases and deaths. With monsoon conditions persisting across Tamil Nadu, public health officials face pressure to act swiftly before the situation worsens.