CHITRAL, June 20: Forty two domestic animals perished after outbreak of a fatal disease in the pasture of Chumarkone Gol in Mastuj Town, said local people and officials.
The local people leave heir domestic animals for three months in the pasture for grazing.
Talking to Dawn, an official of Mastuj police station confirmed outbreak of anthrax in the pasture and said that owners of the dead animals had approached local police to send the report to the high-ups concerned.
He said that local people brought back their bulls from the pasture after outbreak of the disease. Chumarkone Gol is adjacent to Shandur pasture where the highest polo ground in the world is also situated. The local people feared that the animals in Shandur pasture could contract the disease if it was not checked timely.
Haji Maula, a farmer of Mastuj, told Dawn by telephone that the owners had herded their bulls back to the village to save them from the disease.
Regarding the symptoms of the disease, he said that the animals began to discharge fluids from their mouths and ears with white precipitation. “The animal perishes within a day when it is attacked by the disease,” he added.
Mr Maula complained that the veterinary department did not help them despite their frantic calls.
Meanwhile, breaches in the power channel of local mini-hydro power station of Chitral have caused disruption of electricity to a large part of the city and its adjacent areas including Singur and Shali.
The power channel broke at a distance of more than forty feet in Shali village near its intake from the Garam Chashma River. The power line has reportedly been affected owing to laying of pipelines by a non-governmental organisation.
The power station provides electricity to a number of villages and government buildings including district headquarters hospital. The local people alleged that no work was started by Wapda to restore the power supply.