THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, May 30: Around 100 fruit bats have died in the last two days’ critical heatwave at village Soondipur under the Kandi block in Garhwa district.
Deputy Commissioner of Garhwa Shekhar Jamuar told this correspondent late last night, “I have directed the Kandi BDO Aftab Alam to take stock of the bulk death of the bats in this heatwave. I have further directed him to remain in touch with the local panchayat body for this.”
BDO Aftab Alam said, “Residents told the fruit bats had spent their nights on an old Peepal tree, barely 500 meters away from the Sone River there.”
“The next morning these bats began to fall dead from the Peepal tree like any dry leaf. The bats died in scores. Around 70 were counted on the first day of the heat wave,” added the BDO.
No proper disposal of dead bats
When the Jharkhand Story correspondent inquired about the disposal of the dead fruit bats the Garhwa administration sensed alarm. The administration knew disposal of dead bats was important. No one has forgotten the Nipah viral infection caused by the bats in Kerala.
The dead fruit bats were neither buried nor burnt. Burning bats was just out of the question as fire could have added to the already soaring temperature. Burial was the choice. It was not done at all.
It was on the query of this correspondent that DC Garhwa Shekhar Jamuar again wanted to know from his officers about how the dead bats were disposed of.
Villagers consume dead bats
Here it was a shocking revelation. Niraj Singh, a resident of Soondipur village where the bats were found dead said, “No dead bat was cremated or buried. People of the nearby Mallah Tola just picked up the dead bats for their consumption. I don’t know how they eat dead bats.”
Niraj Singh repeatedly said, “Mallah Tola people eat dead bats. It’s something disgusting. But they eat.”
Niraj Singh had a point which he countered himself saying “Many saw the bats dead. None touched them but it was Mallah Tola people who came, saw and then took away the dead bats. What for? To eat it as simple as that.”
Nipah viral infection
Once again when this shocking and disturbing revelation of dead bats being eaten by humans was brought to the notice of the DC, he just couldn’t forget the Nipah viral infection in Kerala caused by the bats.
Shekhar Jamuar told this correspondent, “I have directed the civil surgeon Garhwa Dr Ashok Kumar to send a medical team to the site concerned where the bats fell dead. The medical team must meet those humans who are said to have eaten dead bats. They be told not to eat it as it’s too harmful to their health and public health as well.”
Civil surgeon Dr Ashok Kunar told this correspondent, “I have asked our district Epidemiologist Dr Santosh Kr Mishra and his team to rush to Soondipur. The medical officer in charge of the Majhiaon Community Health Centre Dr Govind Seth will be joining Dr Mishra.”
AHD officers inactive
However, there is one specific department of animal husbandry where the touring veterinary officer has to be there too for the death of the bats in this intense heat wave. These officials tour less than sitting back home!
There was a colossal indifference to this avian tragedy by the lower-rung forest officials who dared to mislead the Conservator of forests Dileep Kr Yadav also.
When this IFS officer was apprised of the concerns of the DC Garhwa Shekhar Jamuar about the death of the bats in the heat wave, Yadav said, “I will spur my team to visit the site and report straight from there to me about the status of the bats.”
