MUMBAI, May 25 -- On Sunday, with just four days to go for Eid ul-Adha or Bakrid, Deonar abattoir looked unusually empty. Large sections of the market wore a deserted look as buyers walked away after being quoted steep prices for goats, many of which have doubled compared to previous years. Every year, the Deonar market sees business of nearly Rs.700 crore ahead of the festival, with thousands of goats arriving from across western and northern India. But this year, traders say there is a severe shortage of livestock and unprecedented price escalation. Many animals have died during transportation due to heat, say traders. Transport disruption is another issue they are facing. According to Gulrez Sharif Qureshi, national secretary of the All India Jamiatul Quresh (AIJQ), which represents the Qureshi community, traditionally associated with the meat industry, around 127,000 goats had arrived at the Deonar abattoir till Sunday, compared to nearly 188,000 goats during the same period last year. "There is no goat available below Rs.30,000 for this Eid. Earlier they were sold at Rs.15,000 to Rs.18,000," he said. P4...