Probe ordered after over 100 cows die in UP

MUZAFFARNAGAR: After the death of more than a hundred cows in Ganga Khadar area of Shukrataal in the past few days, the district administration has ordered a probe into the matter, fearing an epidemic among cattle.

District magistrate Rajeev Kumar Sharma said a team of the revenue department and veterinary doctors under subdivisional magistrate Jansath was deputed to find the cause of cow deaths.

Some villagers have alleged that land mafia eyeing the pasture land may be involved in the deaths. Notably, a major part of the Ganga Khadar area comes under the reserve sanctuary, which includes thousands of bighas of pasture land where shepherds graze their animals. During the past few days, a number of cow deaths were reported in the meadow area of Bihargarh, Jalalpur and Behra Ranjeet Pur villages, where some livestock farmers had established temporary shelters for their cattle.

Sources said that in the past 15 days, 19 cows of Jagpal of Allahabas village, six cows of Mintoo of Allahabas, eight cows of Satbeer of Sikandarpur, 12 cows of Krishan of Shukrataal, four cows of Satpal of Allahabas and 35 cows of Satpal of Meerawala died Besides these, 18 cows of Param Dhaam Gaushala which were grazed in the Ganga Khadar meadow also reportedly died.