VIJAYAWADA:In a tragic incident, nine cows died of food poisoning at the Vijayawada Go Samrakshana Samiti (VGSS)-run Goshala located on the Arjuna Veedhi at the foothills of Indrakeeladri here on Wednesday.
Several others of the 350 cows at the place are sick and the condition of three of them is reported to be critical. The food poisoning is suspected to have been caused by Bombay ‘rava’, whose date has been expired, which was reported to have been fed to the cows on Tuesday by some unknown persons. The Goshala caretakers claimed that the ‘rava’ was fed to the cows during their shift-change and that no one had noticed it. Incidentally, it is mandatory for the caretakers to enter the name of the persons who feed the animals in the Goshala register.
Meanwhile, police are verifying the footage of CCTV cameras installed at the place. When the news of the death of bovines, considered sacred by the Hindus, broke out, due to alleged negligence, there was widespread shock and outrage among the devotees and several demanded stringent action against those responsible.
Taking the incident seriously, the government has ordered an inquiry by the district collector, even as the police have registered a case and are investigating the same.
According to caretakers, the first death at the Goshala happened at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and by the time they noticed that other cows too have fallen ill and called the veterinarians, another cow died and several others were seriously ill. With the situation steadily slipping out of hand, more veterinarians and veterinary assistants were rushed to the place and efforts were made to save the bovines. However, by Wednesday morning it was utter chaos at the Goshala and by afternoon seven other animals succumbed.
“We suspect that the death is due to Tympanites (gaseous indigestion) due to consumption of feed that is not suitable to them. However, we will know the exact cause only after the post-mortem reports are out. At present, we are extending treatment to all the bovines in the Goshala and administering Ringers Lactate solution and several cows are showing signs of recovery,” animal husbandry department (AHD) assistant director M Shyamsundar told Express.
GOSHALA INCHARGE SLAPPED
Holding the Goshala caretakers, particularly its incharge Lavanya, responsible for the incident, Vijayawada Go Samrakshana Samiti president Ch Raghuram slapped her on Wednesday. Reacting to this, Lavanya denied any negligence on her part and alleged that she was being made a scapegoat. “I have been working here for five years and there were no complaints. I was actually employed to write receipts for donors and maintain records. But over a period of time, I was entrusted with other work as well,” she said. Raghuram admitted that slapping the incharge was a mistake and that he should not have done it.
NO PERMANENT VETERINARIAN
The Goshala on Arjuna Veedhi, which now houses as many 1,150 cows, has no permanent veterinarian to look after them. The government veterinarian visits the Goshala once a week for conducting a health check on the animals. After Tuesday’s tragedy, the Goshala management has been advised to appoint a veterinarian on a permanent basis. It may be mentioned here that the Goshala was set up by the Vijayawada Go Samrakshana Samiti in 1927 with just seven cows. Over the years, it has expanded and at present houses 1,150 cows. Apart from Goshala on the Arjuna Veedhi, the committee also runs another one at Tadepalle.