According to the people in Dolakha Bazaar, dead pigeons are lying on the streets, rooftops, gardens and paddy fields. The stench from dead birds pollutes the atmosphere.

“Approximately 5,000 pigeons have died in a week,” said Bharat Shrestha, treasurer of the Bhimeshwor temple prayer and trust management committee.

Authorities are yet to respond to the situation. Vets said an unidentified virus may be responsible for the menace while the locals have got into a panic fearing a disease outbreak in humans.

“Such cases happened in the past but the damage this time is terrible,” said temple caretaker Kashi Narayan Shrestha. He added that rooftops and areas surrounding the temple had yet to be cleared of dead pigeons.