Though the administration has cited pneumonia behind the birds' death, possibilities of pesticides or killing by poachers has not been ruled out. Sub-divisional officer RK Bajpai confirmed the death of one peacock and said that the other birds were undergoing treatment.

Though the veterinary doctor of Kanpur dehat, Ranjan Singh, blamed pneumonia for the death of birds, he failed to explain why the national birds were only dying in Pasikheda and Chainpur in spite of the severe cold gripping the entire state.

The viscera of the dead birds will be sent to Central Avian Research Institute (CARI) in Bareilly for examination, said SK Tiwari, the veterinary doctor in Ghatampur.

Locals said that pesticides were sprayed in the fields few days back and the birds might have consumed the chemicals laced grains thereby causing the large-scale death. Chote Yadav of Bhitargaon in Ghatampur said that the other possibility could be poisoning by poachers, who kill the national bird for feathers and meat.

Several incidents have been reported in Kanpur dehat, Mahoba and other districts regarding killing of peacocks for their feathers, said social activist Ram Chandra.

“Most of the peacocks, which were found unconscious in Chainpur, have frothy nasal discharge, damaged lungs and respiratory problem that hints at pneumonia,” the veterinary officer at Kanpur Zoological Garden, UC Srivastava, told The Indian Express.

He, however, failed to explain the reason why the birds were limping, and were unable to stand on their feet. Ruling out the possibility of pesticide and bird flu behind the birds’ death, Srivastava said that action will be taken once the CARI Bareilly send the viscera report of the dead birds.

Director of Kanpur Zoological Garden, R Hemant Kumar said there are greater possibilities that these birds have died due to lack of food and cold attack.