Floods hit nearly 2.53 lakh animals in 713 villages: Punjab presses entire veterinary machinery in mission mode to protect flood-hit animals

Unveiling the action plan, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the department has drawn up measures to protect livestock from stagnant water-related diseases, including haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), foot-rot, mastitis, tick-borne infections, skin infections, gastroenteritis, secondary infections, and nutritional deficiencies.

The campaign focuses on mass vaccination, disinfection, emergency care and nutritional support.

“Livestock is the backbone of our rural economy. So, we are committed to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers,” Khudian said. “This is not just a relief effort. It is a critical mission to prevent epidemic outbreaks and ensure the health and productivity of millions of animals, thus securing farmers’ livelihoods. We are deploying our entire veterinary machinery in a mission mode to ensure no animal or farmer is left behind.”

Highlighting key components of the action plan, Khudian said intensive cleaning and disinfection of all affected shelters and feeding areas would be undertaken through a rapid clean-up and disinfection drive. Large-scale fogging operations, in collaboration with local government departments, will be carried out to control vector-borne diseases. Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) crystals will be distributed free of cost among farmers for disinfecting water troughs and preparing foot-dips to prevent fatal infections such as foot-rot. These measures are slated for completion by September 21.

Under the Emergency Vaccination Protocol, animal husbandry teams will administer free booster doses of the HS vaccine to all susceptible livestock by September 30. Additionally, doorstep health monitoring and treatment services will be provided to ensure animal well-being. Veterinary officers and para-staff are already conducting daily village visits to monitor livestock for stress, injuries and early signs of disease for prompt intervention, he said.

The minister further said the department would distribute essential medicines, mineral mixtures (Uromin Licks), and silage free of cost to address nutritional gaps and reduce disease risks. In collaboration with the health department, chlorine tablets will also be supplied to ensure animals have access to safe drinking water.

Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department Rahul Bhandari said, “A robust monitoring framework has been put in place. A special post-flood monitoring team headed by the Director of the Animal Husbandry Department will oversee the implementation. Deputy Directors in affected districts have been tasked with ground-level execution, and they must submit daily progress reports. To ensure accountability, 20 per cent of the reported sites will be randomly checked for compliance every day.”

Bhandari further said interventions would be extended beyond the initially identified 713 villages based on local assessments.

Bhandari added, “Special awareness and treatment camps are being organised in collaboration with panchayats and NGOs to deliver aid directly at farmers’ doorsteps in all affected villages.”