By IANS,
New Delhi : The mighty Indian Army is all set to battle a new enemy — mosquitoes.
With the capital seeing an alarming rise in the number of dengue cases ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, the Delhi government has sought the army’s assistance to kill the disease-spreading insects.
The army will fight the mosquito menace near the Commonwealth Games Village on the banks of the rain-swollen Yamuna. Athletes and delegates will stay in the Village during the mega event, an official said.
The number of dengue patients in Delhi has crossed the 1,400 mark, and the figure is rising.
The decision to deploy the army was taken at a meeting of officials held by Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia, said Municipal Corporation of Delhi official V.K. Monga.
A formal letter will soon go to the army authorities, and its personnel will start working with MCD employees who are finding it difficult to drain out water from areas near the Games Village.
The army is expected to lend its experienced engineers for the task, officials said.
Monga told IANS that the soldiers will drain out the water and spray anti-larval chemicals. “They have all the equipment needed for the work.”
At least 24 Commonwealth countries have inquired about the status of dengue in the capital.