Mysterious mass deaths of bats spark concern in Chhattisgarh’s Balod; samples sent to Bhopal

Bhopal/Raipur/Balod, May 30 (IANS) The continuous and mysterious deaths of bats in the Dalli Rajhara region of Chhattisgarh’s Balod district have heightened concerns for both the administration and the Forest Department.

Speaking to media on Saturday, a forest official said that over the past few days reports of large numbers of dead bats being discovered daily have been surfacing.

The deaths of bats are being reported on a specific spot in Dalli-Rajhara.

Given the sensitivity of the situation, the forest department and the veterinary department have jointly initiated an investigation.

Samples have been collected and sent to ICAR-National High Security Animal Disease laboratory in Bhopal to determine the cause of the deaths.

Preliminary assessments suggest extreme heat or a potential infection as possible causes; however, the actual reason will only become clear following the investigation report.

Reports indicate that for the past few days, between 50 and 70 bats have been found dead every day in the Dalli Rajhara region.

This figure continues to rise, prompting the local administration and the forest department to go into alert mode.

Deeming such a large-scale wildlife mortality event as abnormal, authorities are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness.

In light of the situation, senior forest officials issued immediate directives for an investigation and instructed the concerned departments to remain vigilant.

A team from the forest department is continuously monitoring the area, and the affected zones are currently being identified.

While another joint team comprising officials from the forest department and the veterinary department has collected samples from the deceased bats.

These samples have been dispatched to a laboratory in Bhopal for detailed analysis.

The true cause behind the deaths will only be ascertained once the laboratory reports are received.

In their preliminary assessment, officials have cited extreme heat as a potential contributing factor.

The possibility of an infection or disease outbreak has not been ruled out.

However, officials said that it would be premature to draw any definitive conclusions without the findings of a scientific investigation.

The administration has appealed to local residents to refrain from touching any dead or ailing bats they may encounter.

They have urged the public to immediately notify the Forest Department or relevant officials if they observe any such incidents.

Taking these precautions can help mitigate the risk of infection spreading.

–IANS

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