A suspected case of mass food poisoning has led to a devastating loss of livestock in a village on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Authorities confirmed that 71 sheep died and approximately 20 others fell ill in Ghaila village along Hardoi Road, with the incident coming to light on Monday.
Morning of Tragedy: Stiffened Bodies Found
The alarming situation was discovered early in the morning when local residents found numerous sheep lying motionless, many with bodies already stiffened. The authorities, including police and administrative officials, were immediately alerted and rushed to the spot. The scale of the incident prompted a significant response from the animal husbandry department, which dispatched three veterinary teams comprising around 30 staff members to manage the crisis and provide treatment to the surviving animals.
Shepherd's Anguish and Allegation of Spoiled Food
Preliminary reports strongly indicate that the sheep consumed leftover or spoiled food, leading to a rapid deterioration in their health. Sheep rearer Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Fatehpur, narrated the harrowing sequence of events. He explained that four people jointly rear the animals and owned around 170 sheep before the tragedy struck.
"The sheep returned after grazing in the evening, after which their condition began to worsen. They started dying around 11 pm," Pradeep said. He alleged that the animals had consumed leftover and spoiled food discarded in an open ground where they grazed. He pointed out that food waste and other discarded material were present in the area.
For Pradeep's family, sheep rearing is the sole source of livelihood. They invested their life savings and even received contributions from a family member working abroad to purchase the flock. The family has now appealed to the administration for a thorough investigation and compensation for their massive financial loss.
Official Response: Probe Ordered and Compensation Announced
Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Suresh Verma, stated that while food poisoning is the primary suspicion, the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after post-mortem examination reports are received. Viscera samples have been preserved for detailed analysis, and further action will be based on the investigation's findings.
Taking serious note of the incident in the Dubagga area, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an immediate inquiry to ascertain the precise cause of the deaths. In a significant relief measure for the affected family, the CM announced financial assistance of ₹10,000 per sheep that died in the incident.
The tragedy highlights critical issues of waste management in rural and peri-urban areas and the vulnerability of livestock-dependent families to such sudden disasters. The community now awaits the official investigation report to prevent a recurrence.
