After Hantavirus killed a 12-year-old boy in Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has swung into action. One one hand, samples of ill children are collected in Colaba area and on the other hand, it is trying to address the root cause – rodents.

Hantavirus infection, which is commonly found in China, Russia, USA and South America, is a lung disease caused due to exposure to infected rodents. Mumbai has a reason to worry as the city is home to an approximated 9 crore rats!

BMC has 30 rat-killers, who kill rats in the southern part of the town. Each rat-killer kills around 30 rats every night using bamboo sticks. Around 2-3 lakh rats are killed this way and Rs 3.5 crore are spent on the entire process every year.

Rats primarily feed on a staggering 8,000 metric tonnes of garbage that the metropolis generates everyday. Lack of a proper garbage disposal system makes Mumbai a haven for rodents. BMC now plans to involve volunteers and NGOs to curb the growing menace of rats.