SRINAGAR: More than 35,000 chicken died Ranikhet disease in the Kashmir valley, where infection is now spreading to other areas.
Official sources said that about 32,000 chicken have died in central Kashmir district of Badgam during the past few days. The poultry farm owners alleged that the animal husbandry department has failed to provide them expert advice.
There are more than five lakh birds in the district and the farmers are concerned about the disease, speeding to other areas. Similarly in north Kashmir district of Baramulla about 5000 birds had died of the disease with the concerned department failing to came to their rescue. The affected areas included Kandi, Rafiabad, Pattan, Baramulla, Wagoora Kreeri and Tangmarg.
Authorities have directed officials concerned to make only healthy chicken available in the market. Despite directions that the poultry birds can be impounded by the District Administration without proper certificate that they are healthy, nothing much has been seen on the ground.
The infection is spreading to other areas yet the department is taking no visible steps to check it, the poultry owners alleged.
More than 30000 chickens are consumed daily by the people in the valley. The consumption has increased as people go for chicken instead of meat which is being sold Rs 320 per kg, Rs 40 more than approved rate by the government.
Majority of these chicken are being imported from different northern state, particularly Punjab.
