Over sixty Brahminy ducks were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Bharuch district of Gujarat, a forest official said Wednesday.

The cause of their death was being investigated, said V Z Tadvi, a forest official based in Jhagadia.

The birds were found dead in the riverbed of the Narmada across three villages Tuesday.

After the local people noticed a large number of dead birds, they contacted the forest department.

Another official said on the condition of anonymity that contaminated water may have caused the deaths, but reports of autopsy and forensic laboratory tests were awaited.

He ruled out the possibility of the deaths being the result of any epidemic.

Brahminy ducks, also called 'ruddy shelducks', are migratory birds which travel to Nalsarovar in Gujarat from Europe and Central Asia in winter.

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