Rat infestation poses risk of soil erosion along Boulevard embankment

Srinagar, Jan 3: Parts of the Dal Lake embankment along Boulevard Road are facing a serious structural risk due to severe erosion caused by extensive rat burrowing, raising concerns over public safety and infrastructure stability.

Locals and boatmen told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a massive rat infestation has weakened the soil beneath the lakefront footpath, with rodents digging deep burrows that have created visible holes and cracks. The erosion has compromised the foundation of the bund, making sections of the pedestrian path fragile and prone to collapse.

They said the problem has been aggravated by food waste and leftovers discarded along the lakefront, which attract rodents and propel their population. They said the situation is particularly alarming near Ghat 17, where a portion of the footpath had collapsed in February 2025 due to similar erosion.

Another section of the Dal Lake bund on Boulevard Road had collapsed in September 2025, prompting immediate repair work at the time. However, locals fear that without a comprehensive and long-term solution, more stretches of the bund could give way, posing risks to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic along the busy road.

Boatmen operating on the lake added that the weakened bund threatens not only the footpath but also the overall integrity of the lakefront infrastructure. They urged authorities to undertake reinforced reconstruction using cemented and strengthened materials instead of temporary repairs.

They have called for an intensive rodent control drive, improved waste management along the lakefront to eliminate food sources for rodents, and a comprehensive inspection of the entire bund to identify vulnerable points before further damage occurs.

They warned that failure to act promptly could lead to larger collapses and serious accidents in one of Srinagar’s most frequented public spaces.