Bhopal, Nov 6 (IANS): Over 3,500 rats have been killed during the first three days of the pest control drive in a hospital in Indore, say officials adding that around 50,000 more rodents are believed to be still infesting the hospital premises.

The pest control drive was launched Tuesday in Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital ahead of the renovation work at the hospital which will begin soon. The renovation aims at upgrading the facilities available at the hospital and to introduce many other modern technologies.

The contract for the Rs. 54-lakh drive has been given to Lakshmi Fumigation Company. Before beginning to eliminate the vermin, the company marked over 10,000 rat-holes.

In the first phase of the drive lasting till Friday, the company put poisoned bait outside the rat holes in the garden in the hospital and the surrounding open area and managed to kill over 3,500 rats, said Milind Sahare, marketing manager of Lakshmi Fumigation adding that the drive will go on for a month.

The bait is being placed twice every day with the 'menu' for the 'feast' being changed daily. As rats are a comparatively intelligent species, they shun the bait if they find that other rats have died after consuming it. Therefore the platter has variegated 'delicacies' such as jaggery, samosa, kachauri, peanuts etc.

In the second phase, poisonous gas will be used to kill rats. During this phase which will last three days, no new patients will be admitted and those under treatment will be discharged except those seriously ill, said Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Dube.

Finally, the rat holes will be closed.