Srinagar, Jan 3 (Kashmir Pen): Portions of the Dal Lake bund along Boulevard Road in Srinagar are facing a serious structural threat due to extensive erosion caused by rampant rat burrowing, triggering concerns over public safety and the stability of critical lakefront infrastructure.
Local residents and boatmen told Kashmir Pen that a growing rat infestation has severely weakened the soil beneath the pedestrian footpath adjoining the lake. The rodents have dug deep burrows, resulting in visible holes, cracks, and subsidence, thereby compromising the foundation of the bund and rendering several stretches of the footpath vulnerable to collapse.
The situation, they said, has been exacerbated by food waste and leftovers being discarded along the lakefront, providing an abundant food source for rodents and accelerating their spread. The threat is particularly pronounced near Ghat 17, where a portion of the footpath had collapsed in February 2025 due to similar erosion.
Locals recalled that another section of the Dal Lake bund along Boulevard Road had caved in during September 2025, necessitating emergency repair work. However, they warned that unless a comprehensive and long-term remedial strategy is adopted, additional stretches of the bund could give way, posing grave risks to pedestrians and vehicular traffic along the busy thoroughfare.
Boatmen operating on Dal Lake cautioned that the weakened bund endangers not only the footpath but also the overall integrity of the lakefront. They urged the authorities to undertake reinforced reconstruction using cemented and strengthened materials instead of temporary, stop-gap repairs.
They further called for an intensive rat control अभियान, strict waste management measures to eliminate food sources for rodents, and a thorough inspection of the entire bund to identify vulnerable sections before further damage occurs.
Residents warned that failure to act swiftly could result in major collapses and serious accidents in one of Srinagar’s most frequented public and tourist spaces.
— Kashmir Pen
