BARAMULLA - The poultry farmers have suffered heavy monetary losses by the sudden increase in bird mortality due to outbreak of Ranikhet disease in north Kashmir. According to the poultry farmers, due to infection more than 5,000 birds have died in the area in last two weeks.  The areas where the outbreak has caused bird mortality include Kandi, Rafiabad, Pattan, Baramulla, Wagoora Kreeri and Tangmarg.
The farmers alleged that the Animal Husbandry Department has failed to check the infection. “The infection is spreading to other areas yet the department is taking no visible steps to check it,” they said. “We have suffered big losses due to disease and the department is in slumber,” a group of poultry farmers told. “More than 1000 poultry birds have died due to infection here alone,” Ghulam Nabi of Kandi said. Meanwhile, the farmers urged the government to stop import of poultry from outside states as “the disease may have entered Kashmir from there.” They have also appealed the government for compensation for the losses they have suffered.