Monkey menace spreads across city as residents face attacks on daily basis

Lucknow: Step out onto a terrace in Aliganj or open a balcony door in Gomti Nagar, and you may find an uninvited guest waiting. From Chowk to Telibagh, monkeys are no longer a rare sight. They are a daily concern.A reality check across more than a dozen localities shows the menace is spreading. Residents say the problem goes beyond bites. Monkeys enter through open windows and balconies, raid kitchens, and scatter food. The scale of the problem is visible in official data. Govt hospitals record around 6 monkey-bite cases daily, while the Lucknow Municipal Corporation receives nearly 150 complaints each month. Earlier, confusion between the civic body and the forest department over responsibility delayed action. In Jan , the state govt assigned full responsibility within city limits to the forest department. However, many residents still approach the civic body, and their complaints are forwarded without resolution. Residential colonies report similar damage. Clothes are torn and flower pots smashed. Solar panels, water pipes, Wi-Fi and cable wires are damaged. In Burlington Colony, Shabnam said monkeys barged into her house and left it in chaos. "Food was scattered and many items were damaged," she said. In Rajendra Nagar, residents stopped keeping plants outside. "They uproot them in minutes," said Sunita Kumari. Vibhuti Khand is no different. Residents said even a slightly open door invites trouble, as monkeys walk in and start eating fruit and packaged food. RWA members added that, in some cases, monkeys damaged terrace water pipes, causing leakage and disrupting water supply. The impact is not limited to homes. Markets are also affected. In Charbagh and Aminabad, fruit sellers said monkeys arrive in groups and grab bananas and apples. "If we try to chase them, they bare their teeth," said a vendor. Shopkeepers in Nirala Nagar added that customers panic when food is snatched from their hands. Despite rising complaints and bite cases, residents say there is no clear action plan yet. With little relief on the ground, many families installed iron nets and covered balconies. "Until there is a lasting plan, we can only protect ourselves. Authorities must act," said Ravi Shukla from Chowk. TOI tried to contact the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Anuradha Vemuri, who was tasked by the state govt to prepare the action plan within 1 month from Jan 15, outlining procedures for capture, transport, relocation, and long-term management of monkeys. She did not respond. (With inputs from Love Agarwal, Shruti Shukla, Mariyam Shakeel and Amritash Singh)