Patiala, Nov. 17 -- Punjab has recorded more than 4,000 dengue cases this season amid allegations of underreporting and suspected fatalities. Though the state health department has refused to share official data, information accessed by HT indicates that Punjab has logged approximately 4,225 cases so far. Last year, the state had reported 6,260 dengue infections, placing this year's tally already close to the midway mark of the previous season.

Among the 23 districts, Patiala - the home district of the state health minister - remains the worst affected, with 652 confirmed cases. Ludhiana follows with 492 cases.

Senior health department officials have reportedly pulled up Patiala's health authorities over the surge and sought an explanat...