Around 3,600 Broiler Chickens Die Overnight in Ambegaon; Farmer Suffers Loss of Nearly Rs 7 Lakh
Ambegaon, 16th June 2026: In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves through the local farming community, nearly 3,600 broiler chickens died overnight at a poultry farm in Lakhangaon village of Pargaon in Ambegaon taluka, resulting in an estimated financial loss of ₹6–7 lakh for the poultry farmer. Preliminary findings suggest that the deaths may have been caused by heat stress, although the exact reason will be confirmed only after laboratory examination.
The affected poultry farm belongs to Santosh Dnyaneshwar Ponde, who has been engaged in poultry farming for the past 15 years as a supplementary source of income alongside agriculture. Operating under a contract farming arrangement, Ponde was rearing a total of 3,700 broiler chickens at his poultry shed in Pondemala.
According to Ponde, he visited the poultry shed on Monday evening to feed the birds when he noticed that a few chickens had died unexpectedly. Concerned by the sudden deaths, he immediately contacted a local veterinarian and initiated treatment measures.
However, by Tuesday morning, the situation had worsened dramatically. Nearly 3,600 chickens had died, leaving only about 100 birds alive. The large-scale mortality has caused severe economic distress to the farmer and raised concerns among poultry growers in the region.
Following the incident, Panchayat Samiti member Ankita Walunj, former chairman of the Purchase and Sale Union Anil Walunj, and Kotwal Vikas Dabhade visited the poultry farm to assess the damage. They directed the Animal Husbandry Department to conduct an immediate panchnama and assess the extent of the loss.
Ankita Walunj said efforts would be made to secure maximum government assistance for the affected farmer. She added that former Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse Patil would be informed about the incident and requested to facilitate relief measures.
A team of veterinary officials, including Dr Prashant Salve, Assistant Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Ambegaon (Ghodegaon); Dr Vasantrao Walunj, Veterinary Officer, Avsari Khurd; Dr Sanjay Pande, Assistant Livestock Development Officer, Dhamani; and Prashant Pingale, inspected the poultry shed and carried out an official assessment.
Officials confirmed that 3,592 chickens had died in the incident. Based on preliminary observations, veterinarians suspect that the birds may have succumbed to heatstroke caused by extreme temperatures. However, internal organs from some of the dead chickens have been sent to the Animal Disease Investigation Department in Aundh, Pune, for detailed examination.
“The exact cause of death will be determined after the laboratory reports are received,” said Dr Prashant Salve.
The incident underscores the growing challenges faced by poultry farmers due to changing weather conditions and highlights the need for improved preventive measures and timely support mechanisms to safeguard rural livelihoods.
