Housefly menace post cyclone Fani makes lives of Khurda villagers miserable

Khurda: As if problems like lack of water and power supply were not enough for the cyclone Fani affected residents of Kantia village under Jatni Tehsil in Khurda district, housefly menace has now added to the woes.

The local residents of the village alleged that they are unable to live in their houses due to the increase in number of houseflies in the area post cyclone Fani. The villagers claimed that such a menace has been caused due to the rotten carcasses of chickens in two poultry farms situated in the vicinity.

“We are going through a difficult phase after cyclone Fani. We had requested the poultry farm owners to take precaution. However, despite repeated requests, the poultry farm owner did not take any precaution after the chickens were killed in cyclone Fani. Foul smell is emitting from the birds which are already rotten. We fear that an epidemic may raise its head in our village if such a situation prevails,” alleged a villager.

The residents of the village also claimed that they had drawn the attention of the district collector towards the problem, however, they alleged that adequate steps have not been taken yet to resolve the issue.

“We met the district collector over the matter who sent veterinary officials to the affected places. After visiting the village, the officials said that the chicken carcasses would be buried after digging 20-feet deep pit and bleaching powder will be spread in the area. However, the dead birds were buried in a 3-feet deep pit. Some dead birds are still lying in the poultry farm,” alleged another villager.

“While we are reeling under severe heat wave condition, housefly menace now has now worsened the situation,” he added.