The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has identified 10,333 potential mosquito breeding sites through drone-based surveys and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted surveillance across 95.27 square kilometres of the city. The initiative is part of the civic body's efforts to strengthen mosquito control and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by locating stagnant water and other conditions that could support mosquito breeding. According to the RMC Health Department, field staff have inspected 5,605 of the identified locations to carry out insecticide spraying or source-reduction measures. In addition, drones have been used for a total of 149 hours of insecticide spraying. The programme combines aerial surveillance with ground-level verification to identify potential breeding grounds and ensure that appropriate control measures are undertaken.

The survey has covered parts of 10 municipal wards: wards 3, 7, 13, 4, 5, 6, 18, 1, 11 and 12. Together, the surveyed areas account for 95.27 square kilometres of Rajkot's total municipal area of 161.85 square kilometres. The exercise allows authorities to examine locations across a substantial portion of the city, including sites that may be difficult for health workers to inspect through conventional methods alone. Drone operations have focused on drains, pits, pools in riverbed areas, waterlogged locations and other places where stagnant water may accumulate. Such sites can provide conditions for mosquito breeding, making their identification and treatment an important component of disease-prevention efforts. Aerial surveys can help officials locate potential problem areas and direct field teams towards locations requiring closer inspection or intervention.

The findings identified through drone surveillance are being verified by health workers from the respective municipal wards and health centres. These teams are responsible for determining whether the flagged locations require insecticide spraying, removal of stagnant water or other source-reduction measures. The ground-level verification process is intended to ensure that suspected breeding sites are assessed before appropriate action is taken. The use of drones is particularly relevant in areas where conventional spraying can be difficult or may expose workers to additional risks. Riverbed pools, inaccessible drains and waterlogged stretches can pose logistical challenges for teams carrying out mosquito-control operations. Drone-assisted spraying allows authorities to reach certain locations from the air, while AI-assisted surveillance helps identify potential breeding sites for further examination.

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Alongside the technology-based initiative, the RMC has intensified conventional mosquito-control operations across the city. The combined approach uses aerial identification and spraying alongside the work of field staff, who inspect locations and implement measures to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. The civic body's strategy therefore relies on both technological surveillance and direct intervention on the ground. Mosquito-borne diseases remain a public-health concern in areas where stagnant water and favourable breeding conditions allow mosquito populations to grow. Preventive measures commonly include removing standing water, treating suitable breeding sites, maintaining drainage systems and conducting targeted insecticide operations. Identifying potential breeding locations before mosquito populations increase can help authorities direct resources towards areas that may require attention.

The RMC's survey has so far covered more than half of Rajkot's total municipal area, based on the figures provided by its Health Department. However, the 10,333 locations have been identified as potential breeding sites, and their classification does not necessarily mean that every site has been confirmed as an active mosquito breeding ground. Field verification remains an important step in determining the measures required at individual locations. With thousands of sites identified and drone spraying already underway, the initiative represents an expanded use of technology in Rajkot's mosquito-control programme. The civic body's combination of aerial surveys, AI-assisted identification, field inspections and conventional spraying is aimed at improving the identification and treatment of potential breeding grounds as part of its wider effort to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

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