Rat attack shocks Jumeirah Village car owner

Dubai: A Jumeirah Village resident got the shock of his life when he returned from a business tour last month to find the seats and several electrical wires in his Mercedes Benz car chewed by rats.

D. Singh, a two-year resident of Jumeirah Village Circle, told XPRESS he felt something amiss when his white 2007 Merc saloon wouldn't start upon his return.

"There was a burning smell whenever I tried to start my car," he says. "At first I wasn't sure about the cause, but when the smell returned every time I tried starting the car, I had no choice but to ask for help. The recovery van took my car to the garage where it was discovered that all the electrical wires were chewed up and ripped off by rats!" said an exasperated Singh.

"It's bad enough that I had to pay Dh5,200 to fix the ignition wires, but perhaps the worst part for me is that I was in a potentially fatal situation, trying to start an engine with chewed-through wires!"

Singh, who was away for two weeks, said he had parked his Mercedes behind his four-bedroom villa in the parking lot.

The rodents had also chewed away the rear seats of his car. "I don't even know how much more that is going to cost me, since I've only just got my car back after having the ignition wires fixed. In due time, I will have to replace the rear seats, which I'm sure is going to be another hassle, not just in terms of the cost, but in rendering me without a car yet again, bang in the midst of a busy season," says the businessman.

Singh is not alone in his despair. His neighbour has also been affected.

Joanna, who lives in Diamond Views, says she's been dealing with the rat infestation for months. "My new three-seater leather sofa (part of a seven-seater set) had to be replaced as the damage was irreparable. The rats are a headache. Don't know how these pests keep getting into the villa," says Joanna.

Although residents are left wringing their hands in despair, the general consensus is that unattended, abandoned construction sites are a breeding ground for these rats. "My villa in Jumeirah Village Circle between Valentia and Iris Park faces a huge vacant under-construction area with structures erected till the base level. Construction has long since stopped and the whole area is littered with unused bricks and concrete, broken rods, household furniture, etc. It's a major breeding ground for rats and rodents," says Michael Foster, a resident of the area.