Even as dengue deaths continue to rise in Bangalore, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) councillors chose to squabble over other issues rather than discuss the calamity.

In a meeting that began nearly two hours late on Monday, dengue figured nowhere on the list of the 23 subjects that came up for discussion. A few Opposition councillors had to force the topic to be introduced for discussion in the meeting, which was later adjourned.

When some councillors staged an impromptu protest, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy admitted that around 200 dengue cases have been detected within BBMP limits. On the steps taken, he said that there was a proposal for a BBMP laboratory to diagnose dengue cases. He has instructed BBMP Commissioner M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda to conduct more awareness programmes, he said.