Locals worry as more crows, pigeons drop dead in city

Chennai: More than 130 crows were found dead across several zones in south Chennai in recent days and disposed off by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). While officials insist the situation is under control, residents in several neighbourhoods allege delays and lapses in safe handling and sanitization. Crow deaths were initially reported in Adyar last month. GCC sent samples from carcasses to Tanuvas and the tests confirmed H5N1 avian influenza.
"Most crow deaths were reported in the Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones by conservancy workers. A few dead crows were reported in the Tiruvottiyur zone a month ago. However no complaints were received through the 1913 helpline or the Namma Chennai app. We instructed sanitary inspectors and conservancy workers to handle dead birds carefully during disposal," said GCC veterinary officer Dr J Kamal Hussain.The workers were asked not to touch the carcasses with bare hands and to bury them at least six feet deep at the Kodungaiyur or Perungudi dump yards. Officials were also asked to ensure that the spots where the birds were found dead were properly sanitized. But residents complain that these rules are seldom followed. "Recently, at least five crows were found dead in an empty plot in my area. Upon raising complaints, the zonal-level health officials from GCC burned the dead crows. Even though many crows are dying in south Chennai, the health department is not treating it as a serious threat," said M Balakrishnan, general secretary of the Tansi Nagar Residents Welfare Association in Velachery.Locals lamented that, complaints raised to the helpline are not attended to immediately. "I called around 7.30am and I received a message stating that the carcass was removed at 10.30am. Civic officials have to act faster," said K Vasudevan, a resident of Mylapore.Residents in some areas, including Sholinganallur and Purasawalkam, said pigeons were also found dead in public places. However, authorities maintained that no complaints were officially reported. "There were a couple of pigeon deaths in our apartment complex. The carcasses were removed by conservancy workers and the area was sanitized," said Dinesh Thillaiyappan, secretary of the Prestige Courtyards Flat Owners Welfare Association in Sholinganallur.