Northeast

Unknown disease claims 256 water buffaloes in Manipur's Ukhrul district

The Asiatic water buffalo fatalities have been reported from various villages, including Wahong, New Tusom, Tusom CV, Tusom Khullen, Kharasom, and Razai Khullen.

ByUkhrul Correspondent

Updated 13 Nov 2021, 7:53 am

(PHOTO: IFP)
(PHOTO: IFP)

 

As many as 256 water buffaloes of Asiatic breed have fallen victim to unknown disease in remote north of Manipur’s Ukhrul district under Chingai assembly constituency so far, baffling the populace even as the Veterinary and Horticulture department are yet to provide sample report of death carcass till date.

The Asiatic water buffalo fatalities have been reported from various villages, including Wahong, New Tusom, Tusom CV, Tusom Khullen, Kharasom, and Razai Khullen.

Informing IFP on Thursday, Joy Horam, President of Northern Raphei Students’ Union (NRSU) stated that till date 97 water buffaloes have fallen victim to the unknown disease at Wahong village; 80 at New Tusom village, 21 at Tusom CV, three at Tusom Khullen, 25 at Kharasom and 30 at Razai Khullen.

Altogether, 256 Water Buffaloes of the Asiatic breed belonging to different owners have succumbed to the unknown disease.

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Meanwhile, Joy lamented that even after over a month of the incident, concerned authorities are yet to provide the exact cause of the disease, and called up the authorities to provide the findings behind the death of so many buffaloes so that heavy fatalities can be prevented.

ALSO READ: Manipur: Unknown epidemic claims 50 buffaloes in Ukhrul's New Tusom, Wahong

One must note that a majority of villages in Ukhrul district depend on agriculture for livelihood and raring of buffaloes is one of their main sources of income besides utilising it for agri-purposes, with one full-grown buffalo costing as much as Rs 1 lakh.

While quoting the price of one full grown buffalo, Joy stated that death of such one is a big loss for the farmers. Thereby, he called upon the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department to be more proactive and take preventive measures from time to time in addition to providing training and awareness campaigns to the villages so that no domesticated animal dies for want of proper awareness and care.

It is not clear whether authorities concern will provide assistance to the family that had incurred heavy losses, he said.

It may be recalled that the Raphei Katamnao Saklong and the Northern Raphei Students’ Union had expressed strong concern over the reported death of around 50 buffalos of Asiatic breed in New Tusom and Wahong village in extreme north of Ukhrul district during the press conference held in Ukhrul town on October 6.

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The two student unions of the area had also urged concerned departments to be more proactive in providing services to the cattle rearing owners.

The case was first reported in New Tusom wherein the dead buffalo showed symptoms of acute bodily weakness.

Questions looming in the minds of the cattle rearing owners is whether the veterinary and animal husbandry department will step in and save what is still left untouched, while pondering whether the state government would compensate for the loss.

Acting on the unusual death of buffaloes, a team of state veterinary and animal husbandry department had visited New Tusom village on October 5 (Tuesday) and had collected the sample of the dead carcasses for testing.

Concerned departments need to conduct more awareness campaigns and provide necessary training to the villagers especially the livestock owners so that they are better equipped to handle any eventualities.
In Jessami block alone there are around 3,620 Asiatic buffaloes.

Buffalo’s death was also reported in Manipur’s neighbouring Nagaland state in recent months and was found to be “hemorrhagic septicemia”. However, in the case of Manipur’s north Ukhrul district, the findings are still awaited.

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First published:

Tags:

ukhrulepidemicbuffaloes deathasiatic breed buffaloesUnknown disease

Ukhrul Correspondent

Ukhrul Correspondent

UKHRUL district, Manipur

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