Jharkhand has been panicking due to the emergence of bird flu in several states of India, for quite some time now, keeping a safe distance from poultry products. But for young Divya Rashmi, saving an injured pigeon from attacking dogs became the priority on Thursday, while she was heading to the gym.

Divya said it was her neighbour who had spotted the bird first in distress, about to grovel on the ground, with a few stray dogs getting ready to devour it. However, he refused to go near it due to the fear of Avian Influenza.

“I was in two minds then. I had to go to the gym. But I thought if I didn’t rescue this pigeon she would be eaten by the dogs,” she told The Telegraph Online.

It was then when she picked up the bird, which had injuries on its wings, and carried her all the way to the gym.

“A few visitors of the gym saw the bird with squint eyes. Some had disapproval in their eyes,” Divya said.

Thereafter, she took the bird to her home, where it was treated by her father B.N. Mishra, who is a doctor, and her mother Veena Mishra, who is a lawyer.

They gave it boiled rice and lots of fresh water.

She said the pigeon made a spectacular recovery and on Saturday it took a flight from her Belwatiker house to test its flight capability.

“Birds deserve our love and care and there is nothing to fear about them even in times of Avian Influenza,” said Divya, who works in the district social welfare office in Daltonganj.