Toxic waste kills 23 cows

Twenty-three cows have died after consuming poisonous industrial waste that was reportedly dumped near the Meerut Road Industrial Area, on NH-58, reports Peeyush Khandelwal.

Twenty-three cows have died after consuming poisonous industrial waste that was reportedly dumped near the Meerut Road Industrial Area, on NH-58.

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PFA (People for Animals) Society’s Ghaziabad coordinator, Ashima Sharma, however claimed that 30 cows had died and several other were under treatment.

More than 50 cows had reportedly grazed in the area on Friday afternoon, when the poisoning occurred. Although the cattle showed symptoms of poisoning, their owners could not gauge the reason.

Teams of doctors from District Veterinary Hospital and PFA reached the spot immediately on the directions of the administration to save the animals.

“We are interrogating several industry owners of the area who dump their manufacturing waste. We have arrested one contractor who was hired by these industries to dispose of their waste. The companies have been asked to produce the contract agreement, failing which action would also be taken against them. A complaint has been lodged at Sihani Gate police station in this connection,” said Senior Superintendent of Police L. Ravi Kumar.

Livestock Extension Officer, Aijaz Shamim, said, “Primary post-mortem reports have indicated the consumption of poison. Viscera has been dispatched to the Agra laboratory to further ascertain the type of poison.”

The doctors were able to save 20 cows that were administered antidote on time.