Joint verification team, undertook on-the-spot assessment of bovine deaths at Kanjang, Reguri and Akhen villages under Meluri sub-division, Phek from October 7-9, and stated that medical reports suggested the cause of death as Haemorrhagic Septicemia—a bacterial disease that mainly affects cattle and water buffalos.
As per the assessment, there had been 204 total confirmed deaths at the time of reporting– 112 from Reguri village, 82 from Kanjang village and 10 from Akhen village, while several buffalos were still reportedly missing.
According to a DIPR, the total number of affected families/farmers stands at 106. As a preventive measure, the district administration has ordered blanket ban on import, slaughtering/butchering and transit of buffalos within the sub-division indefinitely.
The team had also interacted with the villagers to ascertain the on-ground grievances faced by the villagers. The unexpected calamity has left the villagers in huge economic distress as they were highly dependent on the animals not only for consumption, but also for agricultural purposes.
The team was led by NSDMA asst. manager, Jonji Odyuo and members– vety. asst surgeon Meluri, Dr. S.Thupitor; EAC Lephori C. Tsalirnse Sangtam; nodal officer DDMA-Phek, David Thupitor and NSDMA consultant Kati Jamir.