Over 500 bovines die at cow shelter in flood-hit Jalore

Endless downpour in Jalore has resulted in death of over 500 cows in Pathmeda Gaudham (Cowshelter), claimed to be one of the biggest cow shelters in the country situated in Sanchor area of the district. Moreover, nearly 1,000 cows are in critical condition and medical teams deployed by the administration at the cow shelter are monitoring their health.

"The water flooded into all wards the wards of the cow shelter resulting in the death of 550 cows who drowned. We tried to the save the cows failed as there was water everywhere," said Shyam Sunder Rajpurohit, head of pharma unit of Pathmeda Gaudhan.

The Gaudham was established in 1993 with only eight cows. Presently, it has 44,568 bovines in its wards at 23 places. Only one per cent of cows in Gaushala produce milk and has it strength of 1,700 staff of which 1,100 are salaried. Most bovines are here as accidental cases or abandoned by their owners for various reasons. Fodder for the cattle and salary of the employees and other expenditures are met by the management through the sale of cow products.

The district administration and teams of SDRF, NDRF tried to approach the Gaudham several times but were unsuccessful due to the rising water levels. "The cows that perished have been buried. We are now focussing on providing treatment to over 1,000 cows," said Shyam.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted on the condition of cow shelter, "It is heart wrenching to know that hundreds of cows in Pathmeda and other gaushalas have died after Panchala dam broke. The gaushalas are submerged in water in Sanchore and Jalore areas and there are no adequate arrangements for to save their lives."