Day after geese deaths, Jind villagers still using pond water

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, December 22

A day after 14 bar-headed geese were found dead at Sabuwala Pond in Jind’s Gatauli village, villagers continued to use the water to bathe and feed buffaloes, cows and other animals.

A team from the Jind Animal Husbandry Department led by deputy director Devinder Sharma visited the village today. Other members of team included Jind Deputy CMO Dr Pale Ram and veterinary surgeon Dr Krishan Sharma. Team members asked villagers to stay away from the pond, but did not make arrangements to prevent the use of water. Some more bar-headed geese were also spotted at the pond today.

Jind DC Ajit Balaji Joshi said potassium was placed around the pond to disinfect the area. Prima facie, the geese appear to have died of some other reasons, he said.

“We have asked villagers not to use the water. Two samples from the dead geese have been sent to the Bhopal bird flu diagnostic lab and the results would come in a week. The results of the Jalandhar lab should be here in a day or two,” said the DC.

Raju Sharma, in charge of the Jind diagnostic lab, said the area would be sealed only if the samples tested positive for bird flu. When asked about the damage that may be caused by the time the reports were received, he said sealing the area before confirmation may cause unnecessary panic.

Villagers were in panic and said the birds did not die of cold. “These geese have been coming to the village in winter for years. Their sudden deaths have caused panic. They could not have died of the cold. We suspect it could be bird flu. Officers have asked us not to go near the pond. We request the government to save us,” said Rajinder Singh, a villager.

Satish, another villager, said many were using the pond water due to lack of awareness. “There is no one to prevent the use of water. The administration has neither sealed the pond nor spread information through loudspeaker. If the administration wants to stop the use of water, it must seal the area,” he said.