Most rivers in Assam, especially in the upper Assam districts neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, are full of pig carcasses.

The National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal recently confirmed the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

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This has led to the death of pigs in a huge number with pig farmers having to go through a lot of financial loss.

Alarm bells rang at several places of the district as carcasses of pigs was seen floating in major rivers including the Ranganadi and Subansiri.

Pig carcasses stuck on Subansiri river near Dhunaguri Ghat in Lakhimpur. Image Northeast Now

In the Lohit avulsion stream of the Brahmaputra, now a course of the Subansiri separating Majuli from Lakhimpur carcasses of pigs have been stuck in large numbers on hyacinths and on the posts of the wooden bridge since last week.

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The local villagers allege that dead pigs might have been thrown to the river in the upstream areas.

The villagers have been trying hard to clear the hyacinth from the river to let the carcasses to pass.

Pig carcasses were seen floating on the famed Charikodiya river—the cultural identity of Dhakuwakhona.

Similar scenes were also seen in Dangdhora river in the subdivision.

It is a matter of great concern for the people of Lakhimpur district as many rivers that flow through it originate from Arunachal Pradesh.

The district shares 108.8 kilometres of the interstate boundary with the neighbouring state.

The fear arising from the confirmation of ASF in pigs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is now panicking the villagers who were engaged in clearing the river from the carcasses.

 

Farhana Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in North Lakhimpur. She can be reached at: [email protected]