Bathinda: 59 head of cattle die in two villages

Bathinda, January 16

As many as 59 animals have died in Raike Kalan and Sooch villages here, reportedly due to an unidentified disease.

While Animal Husbandry Department officials have confirmed the death of 37 cattle in village Raike Kalan and 22 in Sooch. However, Raike Kalan village residents claim that 110 cattle have died.

Kulwant Rai Sharma, a resident of Raike Kalan village, said in the last 10 days, 110 cattle have died in his village due to some unidentified disease. Officials are not ready to say anything in this regard but they think that it could be foot-and-mouth disease or pneumonia, he added.

Raike Kalan village sarpanch Satnam Singh said he has received information about death of only 30-35 cattle. But the department officials have been conducting a survey since Sunday, the sarpanch said.

Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry Department) Dr Rajdeep Singh said nothing can be said about this disease at present. We have taken the samples and sent it for testing.