At a time when many residents of cities tend to ignore the problems of stray cattle, the residents of the mountain town Chamba have elicited focus on the bond shared between people and bovines especially in the mountains. An injured stray cow called Radha by the locals died on Saturday after months of care by the locals. Following her demise, the cow was given a formal burial as per the Hindu rituals. A section of the locals also took out a funeral procession before the body of the cow was buried in the forest area. A Peepal sapling was also planted on the burial site.
An injured stray cow affectionately called Radha by the locals was lying at the Durga Mandir in Chamba for the past four months. Due to a spinal fracture, the cow was unable to stand. The locals also called veterinarians to check her condition but were told to shift her to a hospital in Dehradun or some other city for surgery. However, this could not be done in the absence of a veterinary ambulance. The locals feared the transporting the injured cow from Chamba to a city in a utility vehicle would worsen her condition. So, they took care of her for about four months, providing her fodder, water and medicines. After the cow expired on Saturday, the shopkeepers and residents around the temple decided to take out a funeral procession and give her a proper burial as per the Hindu rituals. The ward member Vikas Bahuguna, Ankit Tadyal and others were also present on the occasion.
Sunday, 24 January 2021 | PNS | Chamba
