Patiala, Sept. 29 -- Patiala is leading the state in dengue cases this season, with the tally reaching 185 as of Sunday, compared to only 44 during the same period last year.

Ludhiana, with 118 cases, is the second worst-hit district in the state.

Alarmed over the surge, Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Sunday visited Patiala's Nabha block, which alone has reported 85 cases, to review containment measures and inspect the affected areas.

District epidemiologist Dr Sumeet Singh said two hotspot areas-Boharan Gate and Pandusar colony-had been identified within Nabha town, where the majority of cases had been reported

He confirmed that 14 patients were currently admitted at the Nabha civil hospital, but all were stable.

The mini...