MCD Uses Drones To Spray Insecticides in Flood-Hit Yamuna Areas

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) initiated a drone-assisted campaign on Thursday to spray insecticides in flood-ravaged zones along the Yamuna River, aiming to suppress mosquito breeding and avert outbreaks of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. The effort targets stagnant water pockets left by receding floodwaters, which have heightened health risks in low-lying neighbourhoods. Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh inaugurated the programme at Geeta Colony and near Yamuna Bridge, areas severely impacted by inundation.

The recent deluge, triggered by heavy upstream rainfall and massive discharges from Haryana's Hathnikund Barrage in early September, saw the Yamuna swell to 207.48 metres at the Old Railway Bridge—the third-highest level since records began in 1963—displacing over 12,000 residents and submerging key sites including Ring Road, Civil Lines, and relief camps in Mayur Vihar.

As waters receded by mid-month, authorities shifted focus to sanitation and disease prevention, with MCD deploying drones to access muddy, hard-to-reach terrains where traditional fogging proves challenging. "This modern technology enables rapid coverage of vast, inaccessible areas, boosting efficiency and safeguarding more families," Singh stated, underscoring MCD's dedication to public health.

The civic body plans to expand drone operations citywide, building on prior trials during the COVID-19 pandemic for sanitisation. Malaria Committee Chairperson Neeta Bisht hailed the initiative as a "significant advancement" in mosquito control, stressing its potential to curb disease transmission.

Also Read: Climate Change Gets Real! Yamuna Recedes, Thousands Return To Destroyed Homes, Silt

Urging civic participation, Singh advised residents against allowing water stagnation near homes or accumulating scrap on rooftops that could trap rainwater. A dedicated 136-member MCD team is also intensifying larvicide spraying and fogging at relief camps in vulnerable Yamuna floodplain spots like Sonia Vihar and Garhi Mandu.

With Delhi reporting a spike in dengue cases post-monsoon, this proactive measure aligns with broader efforts to mitigate seasonal health threats amid climate-driven flooding patterns.

Also Read: Yamuna Floods Submerge Delhi, Thousands Forced Into Shelters