BMC will use fire brigade machine to kill mosquitoes

A snorkel of Mumbai fire brigade, which is used to save people trapped in high-rise fires, will now save Mumbaikars from malaria.

The BMC will use snorkels to enter the compound of defunct mills to control the mosquito breeding by fogging.

In South Mumbai, there are many closed textile mills, which are ideal for mosquito breeding. Because the health officials of the BMC cannot enter the premises because the mills are closed, they will now use the device to kill mosquitoes.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said: “The BMC has chalked out a plan to control the rising number of malaria cases in the city. The fire brigade is helping the health department control malaria. At times, the health officials are not allowed to enter the mill compounds. So, we will use the machine.”

Dr Gourish Ambe, civic executive health officer, said: “The BMC has started the exercise at India United mill no-3 at Prabhadevi from Saturday. The exercise will continue in other mills as well.”
Ambe said that on these mills’ premises, there are water ponds with stagnant water where the mosquitoes breed largely. “So, the BMC identified the mills and started fogging in their compounds,” Ambe added.

The BMC’s employees will check the roofs of the structures in the mills. The BMC will also remove tyres, where water accumulates and mosquitoes breed. Also, in the water ponds of the mills’ compounds, the BMC released Guppy fish to control mosquitoes.