PNS n
Veterinary surgeons of Cuttack are yet to find out the exact cause of sudden deaths of a number of buffalos during the last three days in a village in Sadar block of this district.
Although the surgeons have conducted post-mortem on two dead buffalos on Tuesday, the reports are yet to be compiled, informed Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Dr Happy Born Nayak.
At least ten buffalos of Pathar Mundei village near Gatiroutpatna here have died since Sunday and about half-a-dozen others are stated to be in critical condition, Nayak said adding that the sick buffalos are now under treatment at an isolated location on a river patha (islet).
He said the cattle tenders of the locality have been asked not to allow any other domestic animals near the sick buffalos.
While three buffalos died on Sunday evening, sources said seven others died during last 48 hours taking the toll to ten by Tuesday evening.
The cattle growers claim that a herd of buffalos came across pungent smell emanating from rotten cattle flesh that were dug in a pit and later taken out of the pit by wild animals, including stray dogs.
While there were no reports of deaths of any other animals, including the stray dogs, which feasted on the rotten flesh; the deaths of buffalos have spread panic among local buffalo raisers.