Over 200 parrots die along Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh; Bird Flu ruled out, food poisoning suspected

At least 200 parrots have died along the banks of the Narmada River in Khargone district after consuming toxic food, news wire agency PTI reported quoting officials on Friday.

Initially, officials suspected Bird Flu infection after carcasses were discovered over the past four days near an aqueduct bridge in the Badwah area but a post-mortem examinations have ruled it out now.

District wildlife warden Tony Sharma said several parrots were found alive during rescue efforts, but the toxicity of the food was so high that they died soon after. The deaths initially sparked panic amid fears of avian influenza, but veterinary tests found no evidence of the infection.


In response, the forest department has prohibited feeding near the aqueduct bridge and stationed personnel at the site to enforce the ban. Viscera samples from the birds have been sent to Jabalpur for further analysis.

Veterinary officials said food poisoning and an improper diet were the primary causes. Teams from the veterinary and forest departments, along with the wildlife wing, have been monitoring the area since residents raised the alarm four days ago.

Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, said the birds showed clear signs of food poisoning and no indicators of bird flu. She noted that people often unknowingly feed birds items that are harmful to their digestive systems.

Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel said rice and small pebbles were found in the stomachs of several birds. Prima facie, he added, the deaths appear linked to unsafe feeding practices, including possible pesticide exposure from nearby sprayed fields and contaminated water from the river.

Officials said visitors feeding cooked or leftover food to birds near the bridge may have contributed to the fatalities.