Lockdown impact: 60 horses die due to starvation in Puri

The temple town of Puri in Odisha has witnessed the death of many animals during the lockdown as business-owners failed to secure food grain for the animals due to the economic crisis during the lockdown period.

Puri (Odisha): With the entire world battling the coronavirus pandemic, the financial conditions of many have been adversely affected during different phases of the lockdown and unlock process in the past eight months.

Businesses have undergone a severe economic recession, and the temple town of Puri in Odisha is no exception to this tragedy. Not only the business community has fallen victim to the economic recession in Puri, but many innocent animals have also died due to starvation.

During the current year, many traders had purchased horses borrowing lakhs of rupees hoping to make a good profit out of their business in horses. However, all their dreams were shattered due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Due to the economic crisis faced by these business-owners due to the lockdown, they have found it extremely difficult to arrange food for themselves and their families, let alone provide food grains required for these innocent animals daily. As a result, as many as sixty horses and camels have died so far due to starvation and various diseases.

On the other hand, while the businessmen making a living by engaging these horses and camels are unable to provide them with required food grains, the silence of the Puri District Administration in this regard has perturbed animal lovers. The administration has come under severe criticism for not paying any attention to the lives of these innocent animals while it has taken various measures for the livelihood of the people.

Demands have been voiced from several quarters urging the district administration to pay attention in this regard and provide food grains and medicines free of cost for these innocent animals.

The manner in which the horses and camels are continuing to die in Puri town after the lockdown, it is estimated that about two hundred more horses and camels might perish in the coming days due to starvation.