Imphal, Sept. 30 -- Seven Manipuri ponies have died in Kakching district over the past two weeks following an outbreak of an unidentified illness that has reportedly affected around 30 per cent of the local pony population since September 13.

Representatives of the Manipur Pony Society and the Manipur Horse Riding Association confirmed the deaths at a joint press conference at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Tuesday.

Blood samples collected during post-mortem examinations were sent to the ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines on September 23. Laboratory test results are still awaited.

Manipur Pony Society president Professor Ch. Priyoranjan appealed to the public not to panic, saying the outbreak cannot currently be classified a...