Four pigs die, locals scared

FOUR PIG deaths were reported in the city on Sunday even as both the district administration and the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) claimed that the mortality rate was normal for a city with a pig population of over 1.25 lakh.

FOUR PIG deaths were reported in the city on Sunday even as both the district administration and the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) claimed that the mortality rate was normal for a city with a pig population of over 1.25 lakh.

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As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed Section 144 to prevent pigs from roaming freely in any area. Collector Vivek Aggarwal has issued the prohibitory orders, which will remain in effect till May 15.

The administration has also appealed to residents to immediately inform the authorities of the death of any pig or poultry animal in their respective localities.

Meanwhile, according to unconfirmed reports, several families from Ichhapur in Burhanpur have arrived in the city to seek refuge from the H5N1 strain of the virus. Their area adjoins Jalgaon district from where the avian influenza outbreak was reported have arrived in the city.

According to Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr AK Puranik, reports of five pig deaths were registered at the IMC control room on Sunday. Puranik, however, claimed that four to five deaths were normal for a large city like Indore and it need not create panic.