Amid Indore water contamination deaths, over 200 birds, including parrots and doves, were found dead in Khargone due to poisoning

More than 200 birds, including parrots, pigeons, diamond doves and sparrows, were found dead in a forest area of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district near Indore, triggering alarm among forest officials and veterinarians. Preliminary postmortem findings point to food poisoning, even as the state’s commercial capital Indore struggles with a severe water contamination outbreak that has already claimed several lives.

Birds found dead near Navghat Khedi

The mass bird deaths were reported from the Barwaha forest division area near Navghat Khedi. According to officials, the incident unfolded rapidly over two days.

Wildlife warden Tony Sharma told mediapersons that around 25 parrots were first spotted dead under an aqueduct bridge on Monday. By evening, the number rose to nearly 80, and by Tuesday, it crossed 200. Besides parrots, several pigeons, diamond doves and sparrows were also found dead in the same area.


Also Read: Indore water contamination reason: How a deadly outbreak began after toilet sewage mixed with the drinking water line

Sharma said samples of the dead parrots were collected and sent to veterinary doctors for examination, and the local ranger was alerted soon after the discovery.

What postmortem findings revealed

Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan told TOI that postmortem examinations showed rice and small stones in the intestines of the parrots, with severe damage to the digestive tract.

She said congestion had caused both the intestines and the liver to turn completely red. Based on these observations, she and senior veterinary doctor Dr Suresh Baghel gave a preliminary opinion that food poisoning was the cause of death.

Dr Chauhan added that deaths of pigeons, diamond doves and sparrows were also reported, and their postmortem examinations will be conducted on Wednesday. She ruled out cold or any disease as the reason behind the deaths.

Conspiracy angle not ruled out

Forest ranger Nishant Doshi told TOI that he has been informed about the incident and is waiting for the official postmortem report before taking further action.

Also Read: Indore water contamination: Brother’s chilling account of victim’s final hours as residents live in fear; What we know so far

Wildlife warden Tony Sharma also raised the possibility of foul play, saying parrots often damage fruit orchards and deliberate poisoning cannot be ruled out at this stage.

Indore water contamination

The bird deaths come amid a major public health crisis in Indore, where contaminated drinking water has triggered a large diarrhoea outbreak.

A health department official said that during a survey of 1,714 households in Bhagirathpura, 8,571 people were examined. Of them, 338 people with mild vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms were given treatment at home.

In the last eight days, 272 patients were admitted to hospitals. While 71 have been discharged, 201 patients are still undergoing treatment, including 32 in intensive care units.

Lab test confirms contaminated water

Officials said laboratory tests have confirmed that the diarrhoea outbreak, which has killed at least four people and affected over 1,400 others, was caused by contaminated drinking water.

Indore’s Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani told reporters that a city-based medical college confirmed contamination due to a leakage in a pipeline in Bhagirathpura, the epicentre of the outbreak. He did not share further details of the report.

Authorities said the leakage was found near a police outpost, at a spot where a toilet has been constructed over the main drinking water pipeline, leading to contamination.

Govt response and preventive steps

Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey told PTI, “We are closely examining the entire drinking water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura to find out if there is any leakage elsewhere.”

He said clean water supply was restored on Thursday, but residents have been advised to boil water before drinking as a precaution.

“We have also taken samples of this water and sent them for testing,” Dubey said.

Dubey also announced that the state government will issue a standard operating procedure for Madhya Pradesh to prevent similar incidents in the future. He visited Bhagirathpura to review the situation on the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

(Inputs from PTI and TOI)