Over 100 monkeys dead after inhaling pesticide at FCI godown in UP’s Hathras

More than 100 monkeys died after inhaling a pesticide sprayed in a Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown in Hathras of Uttar Pradesh and the bodies were stealthily buried in a pit, police on Friday (November 22, 2024) said.

The bodies were taken out for post-mortem by a team of veterinarians. Circle Officer Yogendra Krishna Narayan said the police came to know about the deaths on Wednesday.

The police registered a case against the employees of FCI and started an investigation.

According to the police, the chemical in question was aluminium phosphide sprayed on wheat sacks to protect the cereal grain from insects and rodents in the FCI warehouse on November 7.

A troop of monkeys entered the warehouse through a broken window of the godown on the night of November 7 and ended up inhaling the gas.

When the workers opened the warehouse on November 9, they found several monkeys dead. They allegedly chose not to inform their seniors about it and buried the monkeys in a pit.

The Circle Officer said the bodies were exhumed when some Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders came to know about the incident.

As per police count, more than 100 monkeys were exhumed from the pit.

Their bodies were in the late stage of decay, the officer said.