57 cattle die of suspected pneumonia in Odisha's Ganjam district

Over 57 cattle were found dead in Odisha’s Ganjam district Thursday owing to suspected pneumonia as the animals were exposed to incessant rain triggered by Cyclone Phethai, veterinary officials said.

“We suspect that the animals died of pneumonia as they were exposed to heavy rain and chilly weather during the cyclone,” Assistant District Veterinary Officer (Animal Disease), Rabindra Nath Panda was quoted as saying in PTI.

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Following reports of the bovine deaths by local people, four veterinary officials led by Panda visited Landajuali village under Aska block in Ganjam and they found that 53 of the dead cattle were calves. Samples were collected from the carcasses for clinical examination to ascertain the exact cause of the death, Panda said.

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The district has been receiving unseasonal rainfall owing to Cyclone Phethai that also lashed Andhra Pradesh. With today’s death, officials said that 259 cattle, including 223 calves, have died in Ganjam after being exposed to the rain for days.

(With inputs from PTI)