KUNDAPURA: Following panic among local villagers over a series of sudden wild and domestic pig deaths, Byndoor MLA Gururaj Shetty Gantihole chaired a special review meeting on Monday. The emergency meeting, held at the Kundapura Taluk Panchayat hall, brought together officials from the Health, Veterinary, Forest departments, and local administrative bodies to outline preventive strategies.

Local residents are living in apprehension due to the foul odor emanating from the carcasses and the fear of potential disease transmission to other domestic animals or humans. So far, eight pig carcasses have been discovered across Nada, Hattiangadi, Aloor, Hemmady, and Hakladi panchayats under the Byndoor constituency limits. Except for those completely decomposed, autopsies have been conducted on the remaining carcasses, and tissue samples have been dispatched to the laboratory for diagnostic testing. The exact cause of death will be determined once the lab reports arrive, the Kundapura Chief Veterinary Officer informed the meeting.

Responding to this, the MLA instructed the four key departments to work in perfect synchronization as a team to contain any potential outbreak before the lab results are released. He emphasized keeping a strict vigil on commercial pig farming centers to ensure they follow scientific waste disposal and hygiene standards. To alleviate public fear, ensure zero mortality, and establish a swift reporting system, the MLA ordered the formation of a dedicated “Task Force” led by the Veterinary Department in collaboration with health, forest, and gram panchayat personnel to conduct intensive awareness campaigns.

The meeting was attended by Kundapura and Byndoor Taluk Health Officer Dr. Premanand, Byndoor Taluk Panchayat EO Nagashayana, Kundapura Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Arun Hegde, Byndoor Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Arun Kumar Y.K., Range Forest Officers Raghavendra (Kundapura), Jyothi (Byndoor), Sandesh (Shankaranarayana), alongside local medical officers and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs).

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