Surkhet, August 30

A large number of cows were found dead in Katkuwa of Birendranagar in Surkhet district this morning.

According to Karnali Province police chief Deputy Inspector General Purnachandra Joshi, locals informed the police after they sighted dead cows near a road in Katkuwa on the Surkhet-Dailekh road section.

“Some 23 cows were found dead and more than 150 were seen wandering in the forest,” said the DIG. “We’re investigating how so many cows had died and why they were left in the forest,” Joshi added.

According to a police source, nine trucks had ferried 291 cows to Dailekh from Banke’s Nepalgunj-based Kanji House, a facility run by the sub-metropolis to keep stray cattle.

Birendranagar Municipality livestock doctor Narayan Neupane said the cause of the cows’ death was yet to be ascertained.

“The cattle seem to have succumbed to injuries, but we can’t be sure until the post-mortem report is out,” he said.

Nepalgunj Sub-metropolis Acting Mayor Sunil Singh Hamal said cows were sent to Dailekh after the Kanji House was overrun with stray cattle and was facing a problem to manage them.

“The cattle were meant to be taken to Shreesthan in Dailekh, first on trucks up to Katkuwa and then on foot to Dailekh. Later we heard that some cows had died. We’ve asked the authorities to investigate,” he said.

Chief District Officer Madan Bhujel of Banke said his office had given the permission to take the cows elsewhere after he was told that they were to be raised by farmers.

“The Kanji House had excess number of cows. When I was told that farmers wanted to keep them, we gave the permission,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have impounded five of the trucks used for ferrying the cows to Dailekh. The trucks were impounded and drivers detained from Surkhet’s Babai while they were preparing to return to Nepalgunj.

“Drivers of the trucks have been kept at Surkhet District Police Office and are being investigated,” said DSP Rabi Rawal of Surkhet DPO.

Urban Development Minister Mohammad Istiyad Rai wrote to the home minister today, seeking action against the guilty.