DEHRADUN: The unprecedented rainfall of October 17-18 in Kumaon has adversely impacted poultry and livestock farmers. Many villages in Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar were littered with carcasses of hens, ducks, cows, buffaloes and goats. Nearly 21,100 hens were swept away in the gushing waters in Udham Singh Nagar alone.

The animal husbandry department is working round-the-clock to provide compensation to the affected farmers. The latest data, collated by the animal husbandry department, shows that farmers have suffered losses to the tune of at least Rs 115 lakh. Livestock and poultry farmers in US Nagar, Almora and Champawat suffered the most, according to official data. “The maximum loss was reported from Udham Singh Nagar, where nearly 21,000 hens across nine poultry farms died. Also, nearly 50 cows, buffaloes, and goats have died,” said Dr Prem Kumar, director of Uttarakhand’s animal husbandry department. The data, exclusively procured by TOI from the department, shows that 35 cows, 17 buffaloes and a dozen calves have died. Meanwhile, a single farm at Khatima in US Nagar lost a total of 200 ducks.

The department is now grappling with infections that are surfacing among the animals that survived. Camps are being organised at several places to treat affected cattle. “Dermatology-related issues are now cropping among animals in the form of infections, fever and cold because of excessive exposure to rains. We are conducting camps across villages to provide care to the affected animals,” added GS Dhami, chief veterinary officer, US Nagar. The areas that saw mass mortality of birds and animals are being sanitised under the supervision of the local administration to avert avian flu or any other disease because of rotten carcasses. Villagers are upset because of their losses during the peak festival season, when otherwise they could have made money.
“We have lost 6,000 hens in this tragedy, a major loss for us. This would have otherwise been the peak time for us to make money, owing to the festive season,” said Balwant Singh, a poultry farmer from US Nagar.
Source : TOI