1,200 pigs, 500 chicken found dead in Maharashtra villages

As many as 1,200 pigs, 500 chicken and goats have died due to unidentified disease in last 10 days in Jalgaon district, health officials have said.

Though the exact cause of the deaths was yet to be ascertained, the officials said the birds and animals may have perished in heatwave sweeping North Maharashtra.

The death of pigs and goats (numbering about 150) were reported from Dahivad village, while that of chicken from Khedgaon village. Tribals engaged in poultry farming said the chicken showed symptoms like fever.

A veterinary medical officer, Shirsath, said the birds might have died due to some disease caused by the high temperatures prevailing in the area. The pigs and goats also showed symptoms of fever and may have perished in the intense hot weather, district veterinary doctor Salve said.

Day temperatures are hovering around 47 degrees Celsius in last few days in the region. On Thursday, Jalgaon district had recorded a temperature of 47.5 degrees Celsius, the highest in Maharashtra.

The death of pigs comes at a time when government has stepped up vigil to identify any suspected case of swine flu, reported from Mexico and Canada among other countries.