Scores of cranes die in Muktsar village

MUKTSAR: A team of wildlife department officials on Sunday visited Pakki Tibbi village of Muktsar district, where hundreds of common cranes were found dead a day earlier. Although officials are still not clear about the reason behind deaths, there is a strong suspicion that the birds may have died of pesticides in pond water. Officials have sent the carcass of some birds for post mortem examination.

“We got information about the death of birds on Saturday. Only postmortem report will make clear the reason of deaths,” said Wild Life Sanctuary, Abohar range, Inspector Kulwant Singh. Pakki Tibbi village falls in Lambi constituency, which is represented by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

“Thousands of birds had come here around three years ago and made their nests on trees. The birds started dying around a week back, but on Saturday we saw hundreds of them dead,” said Amrik Singh, a villager.

“The possibility of deaths due to use pesticides thrown by farmers into a pond cannot be ruled out,” said Hemant Kumar, Forest Block Officer, Ferozepur Range.