Gaighat, October 28:

An unknown disease has cropped up among mules, leaving nine of them dead today at Chisapani of Rauta VDC in Udaypur.

The nine dead mules were among 40 others that were carrying goods from Gaighat to Diktel of Khotang. The mules sweated profusely at first and shivered before dying, mule entrepreneurs said.

Eight other mules died after evincing similar symptoms before Tihar, Kul Bahadur Raut said. More than 40 mules have died over the last year from this unknown disease, Raut said.

Though tissue samples of the mules that died a few months ago were sent to Biratnagar and Kathmandu to ascertain the cause of their death, the disease is yet to be identified. A medical team from Kathmandu has reached Gaighat for investigation.