Pune Dengue: PMC Seeks Report After Midday Fogging in Kothrud; Fogging Allowed Only 7-10 am, 5-8 pm

Pune, 5th November 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has asked its health inspectors to explain why mosquito fogging was carried out in Kothrud at midday, outside the hours allowed by its own dengue guidelines.

On Tuesday, 3 November, residents saw a health department vehicle fogging lanes between 11 am and 12 noon in Rambaug, LIC Colony, Girija Society and the More Vidyalaya area, Punekar News reported. Residents stopped the staff and complained to Additional Municipal Commissioner Pavneet Kaur, after which the operation was halted.

When fogging is allowed in Pune

In residential areas, PMC’s guidelines allow fogging only at two times of day:

• Morning: 7 am to 10 am
• Evening: 5 pm to 8 pm

These are the hours when the Aedes mosquito, which spreads dengue, is most active. Fogging at noon, when mosquitoes rest indoors and in shade, does little and exposes people to the chemical for no benefit.

What PMC’s health officer said

PMC Assistant Health Officer Dr Rajesh Dighe said “the primary objective of fogging is to eliminate adult mosquitoes.” Morning visits are meant for spraying larvicide and ovicide to destroy larvae and eggs, he explained.

When a dengue case is found, staff spray inside the patient’s house and in the area around it. In slums with closely packed houses, fogging is done in the gaps between homes and along roads. Written guidelines exist and staff have been trained on them, Dr Dighe said.

Why routine fogging has been cut back

PMC used to fog the whole city on a regular schedule. After restrictions on routine fogging, it now fogs mainly where dengue cases have been detected. Public health experts have long said that blanket fogging gives a false sense of safety, because it kills only adult mosquitoes in the air at that moment and does nothing to breeding sites.

What actually stops dengue in your building

Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, still water, often inside homes and terraces. A weekly ten-minute check does more than any fogging van.

• Empty and scrub flower vase water, cooler trays and pet bowls once a week.
• Cover overhead and underground water tanks tightly.
• Turn over old tyres, buckets and coconut shells on terraces and in parking areas.
• Check the trays under refrigerators and AC drain pipes.
• Use repellent and full sleeves in the early morning and evening.

See a doctor if you have high fever with body ache, pain behind the eyes or a rash, and avoid self-medicating with painkillers such as ibuprofen until a doctor rules out dengue.

*This is general health information, not medical advice.*

How to report a breeding spot or missed fogging

Complaints about stagnant water, garbage or mosquito breeding can be raised through PMC’s channels, listed in our PMC complaint and helpline guide. For more civic stories, see Pune civic news.

PMC has not shared current dengue case numbers for the city or Kothrud. We will update this story when the health department releases them.

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