Mare dies in Saket Club; owner blames DDA

A day after his nine-year-old thoroughbred mare (lovingly named Shahnaz) died at a sports complex in south Delhi, the owner has levelled allegations of negligence against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

A day after his nine-year-old thoroughbred mare (lovingly named Shahnaz) died at a sports complex in south Delhi, the owner has levelled allegations of negligence against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

HT Image

“Shahnaz died because the Saket DDA complex doesn't have adequate water, electricity and trotting space for the animals,” claimed Surender Sahlot (40), owner and a businessman by profession.

Sahlot claimed the incident occurred around 4 pm on July 13.

“Shahnaz had been suffering from a colic disease for the last three weeks and got very sick around noon on July 13. When informed by her caretaker, I rushed to the spot,” Sahlot recalled.

He claimed that the road leading to the stable where his mare was neighing in pain had been rendered inaccessible due to renovation work for CWG.

“The stretch has been terribly dug-up because of which an ambulance couldn't reach the spot. Shahnaz couldn't be saved even after the veterinarian gave her 20 bottles of saline intravenously — because she couldn't trot due to all the rubble obstructing the stable's trotting field,” alleged Sahlot.

The DDA however, denied all of Sahlot's allegations.

“The mare had been sick for quite some time; if her owner was so concerned about her — why didn't he shift her to a farm house?” asked Alok Swaroop, Director (Sports), DDA.

“It is true that CWG work is underway at the complex - but the road is accessible for all vehicles. The owner of the mare didn't even inform us about the incident,” added Swaroop.