19 animals found dead near Jalna pond, poisoning suspected

Nineteen animals, including nine deer, were found dead Saturday near a water body in Maharashtra's Jalna district, an official said.

Animal Husbandry department official Shivaji Kurewad said the incident happened at Devmurti village, about five kilometres from here, and it is suspected that the animals died due to water poisoning.

"Villagers alerted local authorities about carcasses of nine deer, nine goats and a cow lying near a pond. Water samples have been collected and sent to a laboratory for testing. We are conducting autopsy to find out the exact cause of death. It appears to be some kind of poison," Kurewad said.

Villagers, on condition of anonymity, alleged that miscreants or poachers might have mixed some kind of poison in the pond.

Kurewad said a probe is underway.