TN’s village Vedasandur sees crow deaths, officials deny bird flu link amid state alert

Residents of Vedasandur taluk in Dindigul district have raised concerns over crow deaths reported over the past few days , amid growing fears of a possible outbreak of avian influenza . However, district health and animal husbandry officials have said the situation is under control, rejecting claims of large-scale bird mortality and stating that there is no confirmed evidence of bird flu in Vedasandur so far .

The deaths were mainly reported from Malvarpatti village , a locality known for its decades-long tradition of bird protection. The village, dotted with old neem, tamarind and peepal trees, attracts large numbers of birds, including crows, mynas, cuckoos and sparrows. Residents said that while isolated deaths had occurred earlier, six to seven crows were found dead on February 8 , triggering anxiety among locals.

Some media reports claimed that more than 100 crows had died, but officials strongly denied this. “There have been deaths of one or two crows. But it is not as mentioned in some media reports of over 100. On February 8, there were about six to seven crow deaths. We collected the carcasses and buried them,” a health official told PTI.

Local volunteers have been collecting dead birds and safely disposing of them as a precaution. Residents expressed concern as other bird species remain unaffected , raising questions over why only crows were dying. They have urged authorities to quickly determine the cause and reassure the public.

Veterinary teams have collected samples for laboratory testing to identify whether disease, poisoning or environmental factors were responsible. Officials stressed that there is no immediate cause for panic , adding that people should avoid handling dead birds and report any unusual bird mortality.

The incident comes amid heightened vigilance across Tamil Nadu after confirmed bird flu cases were reported in other parts of the state , prompting the government to issue a statewide alert on February 6. The Department of Animal Husbandry has directed intensified surveillance of crows, migratory birds and poultry, while the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has urged strict adherence to safety protocols.

Authorities said surveillance in Dindigul district would continue until laboratory results clarify the cause of the crow deaths, and reiterated that there is currently no confirmed avian influenza outbreak in Vedasandur.