Over 2,000 cattle die so far
Over 2,000 cattle, including cows, buffaloes and rams, in remote char areas of the district died due to incessant rain and cold caused under the impact of cyclone Nada in the Bay from November 3 to 6.
Cattle breeders said one lakh animals in the char areas could die if the government fails to dispatch medicine and veterinarians immediately to the affected areas.
District livestock officer Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad said on Sunday that they were unable to provide emergency treatment to the sick animals for lack of field workers.
More than one lakh cows, buffaloes and rams are reared in chars on the Meghna river in Hatiya, Subarnachar and Companyganj upazilas as the land is unfit for human habitation and there are vast grazing fields.
The remaining healthy animals are becoming sick as the dead cattle have not been removed, villagers said, adding that they wanted quick removal of the carcasses.
Many cattle are suffering from diarrhoea after drinking saline water brought in by high tide, and many are dying of cold and pneumonia.
According to the district livestock office data, 994 cows, buffaloes and rams died in three upazilas due to cyclone Nada related causes. Statistics from the whole district are yet to reach them.
Though livestock officials claimed that four teams were working in the area, many locals said no veterinarian had gone there as of yesterday.
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