Ninety-seven sheep were killed after falling into a deep natural pit near Gillesugur, about 35 km from here late on Sunday. The sheep were being herded back to an agricultural field after a day-long grazing.
According to the shepherds who were herding the flock, the sheep, unaware of the massive pit ahead that was almost covered with huge thorny bushes, fell into it, one after another, and died. The shepherds said that there were over 1,400 sheep, which were divided into three small herds for convenience.
“Two herds had already crossed the area taking different route by-passing the pit. It was the sheep from the last herd that fell into the pit and died,” said a shepherd.
While 39 sheep belonged to Sanna Yankappa, 35 to Yankappa, 21 to Tirupathi and 2 belonged to Beerappa, all residents of Pulimamidi village in Makhtal Mandal in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana. They said that they had, as usual, come to the border villages in the state for grazing.
“We camp in the agricultural fields of these bordering villages every year. The landowners give a good price for camping our sheep in their fields as the sheep-dung is good for enhancing soil's fertility. It is a huge loss for us as we neither have insurance for the herd nor does Karnataka's compensation policy apply to us,” they said.
Assistant Director, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Veera Naik, Circle Inspector of Police, Yeragera circle, Suresh Talawar and Yeragera Police Sub-Inspector Doddappa, who is also In-charge of Idapanur police station, visited the spot.
“A complaint has been lodged and we have conducted Panchanama. We will submit a report to Raichur tahshildar,” Suresh Talawar told The Hindu .
