Unsurprisingly, Dr. Behera's remarks ignited a storm on social media, with many netizens criticizing him, some even labeling him superstitious.
Dr. Behera urged students to pledge to abstain from consuming meat, asserting that these natural disasters are a consequence of cruelty to animals.
According to him, this cruelty has triggered a hidden force of doom in the state, responsible for the landslides and cloudbursts.
While his view might seem supernatural, Dr. Behera insists that it's lurking in the shadows, causing various natural calamities.
He even warned that unless people stop butchering animals, Himachal Pradesh is headed for a spectacular downfall.
The fate of this picturesque state, he claims, hinges on refraining from meat consumption, suggesting that renouncing meat-eating is the "path to being better human beings".
His assertion that the destiny of entire state depends on dietary choices has left people wondering if "a simple burger could trigger landslides and cloudbursts".
The controversy has especially resonated in the Himalayan region, where meat-eating is deeply rooted in the culture, essential for survival in the harsh highland zones, not only during sub-zero winter months but throughout the year.
Dr. Behera did not respond to the storm on the social media he has stirred in these mountain states, where meat-eating ceremonies have been a long-standing tradition.