Pune: Mysterious Pig Deaths In Kothrud Rise To 47; Residents Demand Answers
Kothrud, 12th February 2025: The unexplained deaths of pigs in Kothrud continue to alarm residents, with five more pigs found dead on Tuesday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 47 over the past ten days. Despite the growing concern, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has yet to receive laboratory test results from blood samples sent four days ago.
Dead pigs have repeatedly been discovered in the drainage system near Bharati Nagar, raising serious health and environmental concerns among locals. Kothrud is home to a small pork farming community, with two to three families engaged in the business. However, even after the rising death toll, no formal complaint has been filed by the pig owners.
The situation has been exacerbated by a lack of coordination between the Kothrud-Bavdhan Ward Office and the PMC Health Department. Both departments appeared unaware of the extent of the issue until a recent complaint prompted a joint meeting with local residents on Tuesday.
“A committee has been formed to improve coordination between the Health Department and the Ward Office,” said Vijay Naikal, Assistant Commissioner of the Ward Office. “An investigation will be conducted collaboratively, and the Water Supply Department has also sent drain water samples for testing. However, the reports are still pending.”
During the meeting, PMC officials shared contact information with concerned residents to streamline communication. Notably, the pig owners, who were invited to the meeting, did not attend.
Veterinary Officer Dr. Sarika Funde stated that while the dead pigs were sent for autopsy, examinations could not be completed as post-mortem procedures are not conducted after 5 pm.
