The death toll of birds after the alleged illegal cutting of trees by the railway authorities here has crossed 100, with many more dying during treatment, an official said today.
In the last three days, around 84 injured birds, belonging to heron, cattle egret and little egret species, and their young ones, died during the treatment at Siddharth garden here, Garden officer A M Walunje said.
Two trees were cut down and two others were trimmed by the railway authorities on Monday, during which dozens of birds died and hundreds of them were injured, besides rendering more than 500 inhabitants homeless.
Meanwhile, Forest officer Ratnakar Nagapurkar yesterday began the inspection of the parking of the railway station, where the incident took place. The report of the investigation will be submitted to the Divisional Railway Manager.
"We have completed the panchnamas and would take action under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972," Nagapurkar said.
The birds have been kept in the aviary of the zoo at Siddharth garden, as the Forest department lacks a facility to house the birds.
City ornithologists and various organizations, including We Foundation, Green Aurangabad Forum and Environmental Research Foundation, today organized a program to protest the killings.
