Amid Water Contamination Deaths, Over 200 Parrots Die of Food Poisoning in Madhya Pradesh

Khargone: More than 200 parrots were found dead over the past four days in a forest area of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, triggering concern among forest and veterinary officials. Preliminary post-mortem findings indicate food poisoning as the cause, while bird flu has been ruled out.

The carcasses were discovered near an aqueduct bridge along the Narmada riverbank in the Badwah area. District Wildlife Warden Tony Sharma said some birds were alive when rescue teams reached the spot, but the toxicity of the food they had consumed was so severe that they died shortly afterwards.

The sudden deaths initially caused panic among residents, who feared a bird flu outbreak. However, veterinary examinations confirmed that there were no signs of the infection. Viscera samples from the birds have been sent to Jabalpur for detailed analysis, officials said.

Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, said clear symptoms of food poisoning were found in the parrots. She noted that birds are often fed cooked or leftover food by visitors, which their digestive systems cannot handle. Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel said rice grains and small pebbles were found in the stomachs of the dead birds, pointing to improper feeding practices.

Officials said pesticide exposure from nearby agricultural fields and possible contamination of water sources along the Narmada could also have contributed to the deaths. The forest department has banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed staff to strictly enforce the restriction. Teams from the forest, veterinary and wildlife departments have been monitoring the area since the incident came to light.

The parrot deaths have drawn wider attention as they come amid a serious public health crisis in nearby Indore, where contaminated drinking water has triggered a major diarrhoea outbreak. Health officials have confirmed that polluted water caused the outbreak, which has affected over 1,400 people and claimed at least four lives so far. Local residents, however, allege that 14 people, including a six-month-old infant, have died due to the crisis.

Investigations into the bird deaths and the water contamination issue are continuing, as concerns grow over environmental safety and public health in the region.