THE mysterious deaths of six cattle within 48 hours have triggered panic and anger among residents of Nirtu village, with villagers suspecting pesticide spraying on agricultural fields near a local coal washery to be a possible cause of the deaths. The villagers have accused the coal washery management of spraying pesticides in the surrounding fields, alleging that the cattle may have died after coming into contact with the chemical or consuming fodder from the treated areas. However, the allegations are yet to be substantiated, and the exact cause of the deaths remains undetermined. Distressed by the successive loss of their cattle, villagers approached Koni police station and lodged a complaint, seeking an impartial investigation into the incident. The deaths over the past two days have heightened apprehension in the village, with residents demanding that the circumstances leading to the loss of the animals be thoroughly examined.

 

Taking cognizance of the complaint, Koni police have initiated an investigation into the cattle deaths as well as the allegations levelled against the coal washery management. Postmortem examinations of the deceased animals have been conducted, and the police are awaiting the reports to establish the cause of death. Koni Station House Officer (SHO) Bhavesh Shende said the investigation was underway and the post-mortem findings would help determine the circumstances behind the deaths. “Post-mortems have been conducted on the deceased cows. Police are investigating the circumstances of the deaths and the allegations levelled against the coal washery. We are currently awaiting the autopsy reports, which will reveal the actual cause of death,” Shende said. The suspected role of pesticide exposure remains un confirmed, and the findings of the post-mortem examinations are expected to be crucial in determining whether the deaths were linked to the alleged chemical spraying or another cause.