An unknown disease has yet again claimed six Asiatic water buffaloes and left several livestock in critical condition at Chingjaroi village in Manipur's north of Ukhrul district on Friday.
So far, six deaths were confirmed and several others were in critical conditions, as per sources. However, the figure of deaths could be more as foul odour emanated by the dead carcasses had rendered it impossible for owners to enter the spot and trace their missing buffaloes in several grazing areas, sources said.
The disease stricken buffaloes initially showed acute nasal and tongue dryness symptoms. It then refuses to graze, develops bodily weakness and subsequently succumbs to the illness.
Recently, an unknown disease had claimed as many as 23 Asiatic water buffaloes in Kharasom CV and Tusom village in north of Ukhrul district.
Buffaloes which had reportedly fallen prey to the unknown disease in Kharasom and Tusom village show symptoms of breathlessness, foamy saliva and nasal dryness.
Informing the Imphal Free Press over the phone on late Friday, one Atao, a local cattle owner from Chingjaroi whose matured buffalo had reportedly fallen to the disease said that symptoms shown by sick water buffaloes share some elements of similarity with the cases at Kharasom and Tusom village.
It may be mentioned that Chingjaroi village is home to around 700 Asiatic buffaloes.
The owners said they have been urging the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department to conduct more awareness campaigns and educate them more on the animal care and vaccination front.
One Apam, a cattle farmer from the district alleged that the department concerned hardly provides timely vaccination. “Only when the death toll mounts, do they step in and take up remedial measures,” he said.
Had the concerned department kept enough stock of vaccines for the livestock, casualties would have been prevented, he further said.
“The death of a matured buffalo is a huge loss for a poor farmer like me. It took years of care and this epidemic has mercilessly unleashed its terror by cutting my main source of income,” he lamented.
