Officials of West Bengal's Forest Department fear that there may be a massive decline in the number of migratory birds coming to the Santragachi Lake in Howrah district this winter.

“The preliminary estimates suggest that between 5,000 and 5,500 birds have come to the lake this season. However, the actual numbers can be determined only after a survey,” Divisional Forest Officer of Howrah Gautam Chakraborty told The Hindu on Wednesday.