The sudden deaths of ten domesticated buffalos in Cuttack district within 48 hours earlier this week have put the district veterinary surgeons in a tizzy as they are unable to find out the exact cause of the deaths. The preliminary postmortem reports indicated that the buffalos died of bacterial infection, but the veterinarians are struggling to pinpoint as to how the herd of buffalos were infected and died suddenly.

District officials are confirming about the deaths of ten buffalos in Pathar Mundei village of Sadar block between Sunday evening and Tuesday evening and there was no further casualty during last 24 hours ending on Wednesday evening even though, six other sick buffalos are undergoing treatment in critical conditions. But the buffalo raisers of the village are claiming the death toll to have crossed 20.

“We have seen the bodies of ten dead buffalos in the village and six ailing animals are currently undergoing treatment at an isolated location in the nearby river islet,” said Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Dr Happy Born Nayak, disputing the claims made by the buffalo tenders, who met the district Collector on Wednesday seeking compensation for the loss of their livestock.

Nayak said a five-member team comprising veterinary surgeons are now camping in the village and treating the sick buffalos. Besides giving anti-biotic, the sick animals are under routine vaccination for respiratory infections. “The bovines generally have high resilience to bacteria,” Nayak said, expressing surprise over the sudden deaths of the buffalos.

Reports said the herd of buffalos reportedly came across pungent smell of some rotten cattle meat and fell sick.