VARANASI: At least 49 sheep were drowned in Surahatal (pond) near Kaithwali village under Bansdih police station in Ballia district on Friday.According to reports, four sheep owners had gone to Surahatal when their sheep entered the pond and started drowning. To save them, the owners also jumped into Surahatal. Local fishermen rescued the sheep owners and over 75 sheep, but 49 sheep drowned. Earlier, on Wednesday night 132 sheep and lambs had died in the attack of stray dogs in Bhadohi district On Friday morning, Uttam Chand Pal, Indradev Pal of Gherai village, Sanjay Pal and Rajesh Pal of Nagpura village had gone to Surhatal with their sheep. Initially, a few sheep entered the pond to drink water but others also followed them and entered into deep water. On seeing them drowning, their owners also jumped into the pond.On hearing their cries local fishermen swung into action. After rescuing the sheep owners they also tried saving the sheep and took out over 75 sheep safely out of the from the pond. However, a large number of them died. Their carcasses were later fished out by the fishermen and local police.Chief development officer BN Singh said that on getting information, a team of veterinary doctors was rushed to the incident site. Singh confirmed killing of 49 sheep. The team conducted autopsy of a few animals and confirmed the cause of death as drowning, said Singh adding that veterinary officials had been asked to explore the provisions under which compensation can be paid to the sheep owners against such losses.This was the second incident of killing of sheep in bulk in two consecutive days. On Wednesday night, some stray dogs had attacked sheep and lamb in a cattle shed of Jhallar Pal of Lakhno village in Gyanpur police station area in Bhadohi district, where 210 sheep and lambs were kept. Bhadohi district magistrate Rajendra Prasad had rushed a team of veterinary officials along with a SDM, tehsildar and police to the incident site. Following initial investigation, officials said that some stray dogs attacked the sheep. While a few apparently died of injuries caused by the dogs, it seems most of them died due to suffocation after herding together, they said.

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