Foot-&-mouth disease: Dumped carcasses raise stink in Ludhiana, Malerkotla districts

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh/Payal, Aug 12

Toxic gases and pathogens emanating from carcasses of more than 150 milch cattle, which died of foot-and-mouth disease and dumped in the fields and open common passages, are posing a health risk to people of two dozen localities in Ludhiana and Malerkotla districts.

Will take preventive steps

Besides taking preventive steps, we will coordinate with Animal Husbandry Department so that bodies do not decompose in the open. Dr Rajesh Gupta, District Health Officer, Ludhiana

Having already lost precious livestock, dairy farmers of Payal’s Ber Kalan, Latala, Sihar, Kalahar, Nanakpur Jagera, Ahmedgarh, Chhanna, Jandali Khurad, Jandali Kalan, Saraud and Kanganwal had to bear the extra burden of getting rid of carcasses with contractors’ staff at “hadda roris” (where carcasses are dumped) demanding between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 to remove each dead animal. Ludhiana District Health Officer Dr Rajesh Gupta acknowledged that decomposition and putrefaction of carcasses in the open could cause explosive proliferation of pathogens, besides FMD virus, which could be hazardous for humans and cattle.

Dr Ravinder Sharma, a dairy farmer of Ahmedgarh, said he had to pay extra for getting his five bovine carcasses removed, claiming the contractor was supposed to lift these for free to prevent further spread of virus.

“I have lost cattle worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh that I spent on their medication,” said Dr Sharma, adding Animal Husbandry Department officials had failed to come to their rescue.

Gurdeep Singh, a dairy farmer of Ber Kalan village, claimed he lost 15 head of cattle and the number could exceeded 150 in the region. “Our village had to collect money from each family to arrange for the disposal of carcasses using JCB machines,” he said, apprehending emission of toxic fumes and pathogens could infect other animals and harm humans. Ludhiana Deputy Director Animal Husbandry Dr Paramdeep Singh Walia said 68 milch cattle had succumbed to the FMD at Ber Kalan alone. “However, we have now controlled the situation as no fresh cases are being reported from any of the villages of the block,” he said.