India, Feb. 23 -- Eleven peacocks were found dead at Pychara in Ghaziabad's Loni on Monday morning, officials said, and added it could be a case of phosphate poisoning from a nearby agricultural field.

"Ten peacocks were found dead when our team visited the site...one was found suffering severe dehydration and later succumbed. There were no signs of injury to the birds or any visible signs of poaching, etc. Upon inquiry, our team found that phosphate mixed in water was used in one of the nearby agricultural fields yesterday [Sunday]. It is suspected that the peacocks may have consumed the chemical," said divisional forest officer Isha Tiwari.

The carcasses have been sent for autopsy. "The autopsy will be held under the supervision of th...