Khammam: Panic swept through a tribal hamlet in Khammam district on Sunday after more than 65 goats collapsed and died within minutes of grazing in a nearby ladyfinger field. Villagers suspect pesticide poisoning and have demanded an immediate investigation.
The tragedy unfolded in Arekodu Thanda, under Khammam Rural mandal, where around 300 goats were herded for routine grazing. But within half an hour, several began to convulse and drop dead. About 50 animals perished right in the field. Another 15 died at the district veterinary hospital despite urgent treatment, and dozens more remain critical.
According to locals, the field, planted with bendakaya (ladyfinger), had been recently sprayed with pesticides. “The crop looked ready, so the owner said grazing was fine. But clearly, the chemicals hadn’t faded,” said one herder, still shaken.
The farmer, a resident of Mellacheruvu, reportedly sprayed the pesticide just a few days earlier, far short of the safe buffer period. Villagers now fear that toxic residues on the crop may have poisoned the goats.
Carcasses were found scattered across the field, some still partially wedged under crop rows. “They were fine when they went in. In minutes, they started frothing and falling. It was terrifying,” a local woman recounted.
Veterinary teams from Khammam have been deployed to treat the survivors and conduct autopsies on the dead animals. Though official confirmation is pending, early signs point to acute pesticide toxicity.
This is not the first time livestock deaths have been linked to unsafe pesticide practices in Telangana’s rural belt. Locals are now demanding that authorities regulate chemical usage more strictly and ensure farmers observe safety intervals before allowing animals to graze.
“If this can happen in one field, it can happen anywhere. Who’ll be held responsible?” asked a herder whose entire flock is now either dead or sick.