Nainital – The picturesque hill station of Nainital is grappling with an alarming surge in its rodent population, prompting local authorities to seek assistance from the Surat Municipal Corporation in Gujarat. The decision to reach out to Surat stems from that city’s past success in tackling a similar rodent crisis.

Nainital Municipality Executive Officer Rohitash Sharma stated that the Surat Municipal Corporation has been contacted due to their proven track record in managing a past rodent epidemic.

The burgeoning rat problem in Nainital poses a significant threat to the town’s infrastructure, particularly the historic walls surrounding the iconic Naini Lake. Holes dug by rodents have already compromised sections of the wall from Band Stand to Capital Cinema, leading to partial collapses and raising concerns about further structural damage. Instances of land subsidence near Band Stand have also been attributed to extensive burrowing by rats.

The Nainital authorities are now focused on developing effective strategies to control the escalating rat numbers, considering a range of measures to resolve the problem. Sharma further warned that the extensive burrowing by rats in various locations across Nainital also elevates the risk of landslides, particularly during the monsoon season.