Khargone, Madhya Pradesh | January 2, 2026

At least 200 parrots have died along the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district over the past four days, officials confirmed on Friday. The deaths, which initially sparked fears of a bird flu outbreak, have been attributed to food poisoning and improper diet, according to veterinary and forest department investigations.

The carcasses were discovered near an aqueduct bridge on the riverbank in the Badwah area, prompting immediate action by local authorities. While some parrots were alive during rescue attempts, the toxicity of the ingested food was so severe that they died shortly after being rescued, said Tony Sharma, the district wildlife warden.

Investigations Rule Out Bird Flu

Early reports of the mass deaths caused alarm in the surrounding communities, as residents feared the possibility of a bird flu outbreak. However, post-mortem examinations conducted by the veterinary department ruled out bird flu, confirming that the deaths were caused by food poisoning and improper diet.

Dr. Manisha Chauhan, the veterinarian who conducted the post-mortems, stated that the symptoms observed in the parrots were consistent with food poisoning. “There were no indicators of avian influenza. People often feed birds food that is harmful to their digestive systems, even unknowingly,” she explained.

Causes and Contributing Factors

Veterinary officials noted that the parrots had ingested rice and small pebbles, which likely contributed to the fatalities. Additionally, exposure to pesticides from nearby sprayed fields and contaminated water from the Narmada River may have worsened the impact of the poisoned food, said Dr. Suresh Baghel, veterinary extension officer.

“Visitors to the aqueduct bridge often feed cooked or leftover food to the birds, which can prove fatal. Such feeding practices are extremely harmful and, in this instance, appear to be the primary cause of the deaths,” Dr. Baghel added.

The forest and veterinary departments have since banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed personnel to enforce the restriction. Viscera samples from the dead birds have been sent to Jabalpur for further examination to confirm the exact toxic agents responsible for the mass deaths.

Response and Monitoring

Teams from the veterinary department, forest department, and wildlife wing have been actively monitoring the area for the past four days following reports from local residents. Wildlife officials have urged the public to avoid feeding birds, particularly near riverbanks and other wildlife habitats, as human-introduced food can be lethal.

The incident has raised concerns about human interference in wildlife feeding, as well as the effects of environmental contamination on bird populations. Authorities are emphasizing awareness campaigns to educate residents and visitors about the dangers of feeding birds with inappropriate food.

District wildlife warden Tony Sharma stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The public must understand that improper feeding can be fatal to birds and disrupt local ecosystems.”

Broader Implications

The mass deaths underscore the delicate balance between humans and wildlife, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas where birds are accustomed to being fed by people. Experts warn that well-intentioned actions such as offering cooked food, leftovers, or grains can inadvertently cause digestive problems, poisoning, and even mass fatalities in bird populations.

Officials are also investigating the possible role of pesticide exposure and contaminated water as contributing factors, which could have long-term impacts on local wildlife if not addressed.

As authorities continue to enforce the feeding ban near the aqueduct bridge and spread awareness among visitors, the focus remains on preventing further deaths and ensuring the health of the remaining parrot population along the Narmada River.

The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of human interaction with wildlife and the importance of maintaining safe feeding practices that align with the natural diet and habitat of birds.