In response to complaints of a foul odour, the Central Railway (CR) removed over 100 dead rats from the running room at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai using advanced borescope cameras. The odour had been causing discomfort for motormen and other crew members.
They reported that the stench was interrupting their rest and work schedules. Many had to wear masks when using the lavatory. Suburban train drivers moved from the AC lobby to other locations, taking benches with them. Most decided to temporarily move to the CSMT concourse until the issue was resolved.
Housekeeping staff were dispatched immediately after receiving complaints. They used two borescope cameras to scan the ceiling and other hard-to-reach places. A borescope camera is often used for non-destructive testing of infrastructure and equipment when other methods are not feasible. This led to the discovery of over 100 dead and living rats.
The dead rats were removed from the areas around the lavatory and washroom. Samples of the dead rats and water were collected and sent to a lab for analysis. The entire area was sterilised and fumigated to ensure safety.
Ceiling panels were broken to facilitate the removal. The suburban running room underwent thorough cleaning, including robotic AC duct cleaning with suction machines and video recording.
Temporary accommodations were provided for the running staff during this operation. Pedestal fans and CS kiosks were brought into the temporary area to provide a hassle-free sign-on and duty booking experience for the staff. A makeshift diner was also set up next to platform number 6.
Crew control officials, train managers, and motormen were relocated to an open area in front of the lobby. This area included private covered spaces, luggage racks, water fountains, pedestal fans, refreshments, and CMS kiosks for easy duty booking and sign-on/off.
The odour was first reported on July 22, when 18 to 20 dead rats were found. Interestingly, the area had been cleaned up only last week in preparation for Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's inspection on July 20.
Cleaning on July 23 and 24 led to the discovery of up to seventy dead rodents. However, according to sources, more than 150 dead rats were discovered in the CSMT motorman/guard lobby during the previous six days. Additionally, the contractor in charge of maintaining the air-conditioned lobby has been fined about INR 5 lakh by the administration.