What is the reason behind birds’ death in Sambhar lake?

Avian Botulism, a bacterial disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium Botulin, which affects the nervous system was found to be the reason behind the mass death of migratory birds at the Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.

Botulinum affects the nervous system of both humans and birds but the type of toxin varies as botulinum A, B, and E in humans and botulinum C in birds.

Around 18000 birds have been found dead over the past few weeks in the area of the lake. Sambhar lake, India’s? largest inland saline lake is home to over 1.5 birds during the winter season in India.