With 45 fresh cases, the number of dengue patients in the national capital shot up to 661 on Wednesday, even as the ruling BJP in MCD sought to deflect the blame on authorities in Delhi's neighbourhood saying lack of preventive measures there was aiding its spread.

The civic agency has intensified its drive to check breeding of mosquitoes and has challaned 6,501 people so far, Municipal Health Officer, MCD, N K Yadav told reporters here. He said 46,503 legal notices have been issued.

According to Yadav, a total of 1,335 people were challaned in one day after mosquito breeding was detected on their premises.

"The total number of cases has reached 661. Fresh cases are 45. There are 11 cases in which the infection has been contracted from outside the city," he said. The capital has seen two dengue deaths so far. Today's figure marks the highest single-day incidence of dengue this season.

Chairman of standing committee R K Singhal and former chairman Vijender Gupta said MCD has no control over the neighbourhood areas in the city's periphery. "So many people are travelling here to and from these areas. No measures like fogging are being taken there," Gupta said.

They demanded that the Centre should ensure formation of a coordination committee with representatives from MCD and neighbourhood areas to prevent spread of dengue.