Hundreds of hens die

Akola, Maharashtra, May 12 (UNI) More than 450 hens have died and three to four are dying daily for the last several days at village Rohankhed in Akot taluka of this district, official sources said today.

They said cause of the death was not known but added samples of blood and excreta of the dead birds had been sent for analysis by officials of the animal husbandry department more than a week ago.

Even as the test reports are awaited the daily deaths of hens has raised fear among the villagers because of bird flu having had killed poultry livestock in Nandurbar and Jalgaon districts of the State earlier.

The villagers said some goats, too, had died and about 15 are suffering from a disease which has not been diagnosed yet, adding the birds and animals were taken for treatment to vetrinarian Dr Makodey in nearby Kotasa.

UNI XR SA SHB RS1823