Punjab launches action plan to protect livestock after floods

The North News

Chandigarh, September 14

Punjab’s Animal Husbandry Department has announced a comprehensive action plan to safeguard livestock from disease and nutritional shortages following recent floods that affected more than 2.53 lakh animals across 713 villages. Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the department would carry out mass vaccination, disinfection, fogging operations and emergency care to protect animals from haemorrhagic septicaemia, foot-rot, mastitis, gastroenteritis and parasitic infections.

“This is not just a relief effort; it is a critical mission to prevent epidemic outbreaks and protect farmers’ livelihoods,” Khudian said, adding that veterinary teams had been deployed in “campaign mode” across rural Punjab.

The plan includes:

• Intensive cleaning and disinfection of shelters and feeding areas.
• Large-scale fogging operations with the Local Government Department.
• Free distribution of potassium permanganate to disinfect water troughs and create foot-dips.
• Free booster doses of the HS vaccine to be administered by 30 September.
• Doorstep veterinary monitoring, treatment, and nutritional support.

Essential medicines, mineral supplements and silage are being distributed, while chlorine tablets are being supplied to ensure safe drinking water for animals. Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry Rahul Bhandari said a post-flood monitoring team headed by the department’s director had been established. Deputy directors in affected districts will oversee field execution, with daily reports and random checks to ensure accountability. Special treatment and awareness camps are also being organised with panchayats and NGOs to reach livestock farmers directly.