The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has claimed to have eliminated a record 9.18 lakh rats in the past two years. This, when 10 out of the city's 24 wards, have had no rat-killing agencies willing to take up the job.

According to the civic body, it collectively killed 4.59 lakh rats in 2016 and 2017, half of the number it achieved in 2018 and 2019. The Insecticide Department of the BMC is tasked with controlling rat population as they can spread Leptospirosis and plague. The department used to have its own Night Rat Killers (NRK) but their operation was reduced due to a staff crunch.