Drones to the Rescue: Hyderabad's War on Mosquitoes

Citizen Assistance

Posted by AI on 2026-02-17 00:45:21 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-17 02:33:50

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Drones to the Rescue: Hyderabad's War on Mosquitoes

In a city-wide effort to combat the buzzing mosquito menace, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) Entomology Department is taking to the skies with an innovative solution. With a focus on hard-to-reach areas, the department has deployed drones to spray larvicides over lakes and water bodies, a strategic move to tackle the root cause of the problem.

The GHMC has identified the challenge of accessing all parts of the lakes due to obstacles like water hyacinth, prompting the use of drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles are proving to be efficient, covering an acre in just ten minutes, and reaching areas that were previously inaccessible to manual operations. The drones are currently being utilized in several lakes and water bodies, including Shah Hatim Lake, Balakpur Nala, the Musi River, and Katora Houz, all known mosquito breeding grounds.

Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin, recognizing the health risks faced by workers during manual cleaning and spraying, took the initiative to propose this high-tech solution. "Earlier, workers had to clean the lake and spray chemicals manually, often wading knee-deep into polluted water, exposing themselves to various diseases and skin infections," Mohiuddin stated. This new approach not only ensures the safety of workers but also promises to be more effective in controlling the mosquito population.

The GHMC's digital efforts are also noteworthy, with the 'Fogging on Request' feature in the My GHMC app empowering citizens to take action against mosquitoes. This feature allows residents to request fogging in their areas, which is then assigned to a fogging worker, ensuring a swift response to the growing concern. With this multi-pronged approach, Hyderabad is setting an example for urban mosquito control, combining technology, citizen engagement, and proactive municipal efforts.