10 cows die after eating leftover food from village ceremony in Mathura

As many as 10 cows lodged at a gaushala in a village in Mathura died after allegedly eating leftover food from a 'terhavi' (post-death) ceremony on Saturday, an official said.

A total of 30 cows fell ill due to acidosis -- a medical condition characterised by excess acid in body fluids -- after eating the leftover food, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr NN Shukla said. "Ten cows died, but doctors managed to save another 20 cows, which are doing fine now."

The incident took place in Bhaisa village falling under Refinery police station limits.

The 'terhavi' -- ritual offerings on the thirteenth day of a persons death -- of the gram pradhan was organised on May 20. A large quantity of food was left over following the ceremony, which was given to animals of the temporary gaushala on May 22, the officer said.

Subsequently, 30 cows fell ill, developing symptoms of acidosis.

A team of 10 veterinarians were pressed to nurse the bovines back to health, Shukla said, adding that experts from Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, were also called.

Post-mortem on the cows have been conducted, and samples sent for investigation, he said.

The gaushala where the deaths occurred is managed by the gram sabha, which is in the process of shifting the bovines to a new location in Ral village.

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