12 ghariyals die in two days

In the last two days, as many as 12 ghariyals have been found dead in the Chambal river in Etawah’s Chakar Nagar Tehsil.

In the last two days, as many as 12 ghariyals have been found dead in the Chambal river in Etawah’s Chakar Nagar Tehsil. While four carcasses were found on the banks, the other eight were found floating in the water.

The deaths came under scrutiny after the NGO, Society for Conservation of Nature, informed the Forest department that it had spotted two dead crocodiles near the river. Department officials visited the spot and took up the matter with the National Chambal Sanctuary authorities.

Immediately after word was out, the Madhya Pradesh Forest department also launched a search in the river. They found four carcasses in their area.

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District Magistrate of Etawah, Amit Gupta said, “We have sent the carcasses for medical tests to find out the cause of death. The Madhya Pradesh government is also carrying out similar tests.” Additional District Magistrate of Chakar Nagar Ali Hasan said while the bodies were discovered in the last couple of days, the crocodiles might have died earlier.

He said a team of doctors and other wildlife experts were trying to find out what could have killed crocodiles in such large numbers.

Secretary of the NGO, Society for Conservation of Nature, Rajeev Chauhan said, “I was informed by locals on Monday morning that four dead ghariyals had washed up on the river bank. I went to check and found only two after which we informed forest authorities.”

Senior officers of the Forest department have said that pollution in the river waters was the likely cause behind the deaths. An officer said it could also be a contagious disease.

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“The tests will reveal the exact cause of death,” he said. Despite several attempts, officials of the National Chambal Sanctuary could not be contacted.

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