Videos showing carcasses of cows outside govt shelter in UP's Kasganj go viral, locals allege 'negligence' by authorities

AGRA: Videos showing the presence of dead cows outside a state government-owned shelter in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh have sparked outrage, with locals accusing authorities of "negligence".
One viral video shows a man dragging a deceased cow tied to his tractor with a rope, while another video reveals the carcasses of multiple cows lying unattended outside the Gaushala in Nawada village, under the Patiyali block.
According to locals, the cows housed at the shelter have been "deprived of fodder for several days, and ailing animals have not received timely treatment".
"In order to draw the attention of the authorities to the plight of the cows, villagers recorded videos of the carcasses and skeletons of over a dozen cows and shared them on social media," said Sujit Kumar, a local. He further claimed that the "cows had died due to starvation and lack of proper treatment at the shelter facility".
Akhilesh Singh, another resident, said, "The carcasses of the cows were regularly being discarded in a field adjacent to the Gaushala, causing a foul smell in the area. Some carcasses were found with missing heads and legs, and certain deceased cows still had government tags pierced in their ears."
"When the videos exposing the mismanagement at Gaushala and the lackadaisical approach of authorities went viral, a team of officials swiftly arrived and removed the carcasses and skeletons," said farmer Ashok Kumar Singh.
Meanwhile, district animal husbandry officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal countered the allegations and said, "The situation portrayed in the viral videos does not reflect the actual conditions on the ground. One animal died due to flatulence, and after a vaccination drive on Tuesday, a few animals experienced health complications, which are being promptly addressed with necessary treatment."
District magistrate Harshita Mathur said, “Taking cognisance of the videos, a probe has been ordered into the management at the cow shelter. records of housed cows, the number of deaths, availability of fodder, and other amenities are being examined."