Alappuzha, Nov 22: Free cattle feed would be distributed to flood-affected dairy farmers in this coastal district by Kerala Feeds, a public sector unit producing and selling good quality compounded cattle feed and supplements at affordable rates.

Two bags each would be given to each of the farmers as part of the first phase of the PSU's cow distribution scheme.

The endeavour is in accordance with the "I am for Alleppey" campaign launched by the district administration, Kerala Feeds managing director Dr B Sreekumar said Thursday.

He was speaking after inaugurating the company's 'Snehasparsham' project that aims at providing relief for the state's dairy farmers affected by the deluge and landslides Kerala faced three months ago.

"I am for Alleppey" is an initiative by Alappuzha district sub-collector Krishna Teja to help dairy farmers who lost their cattle in the floods and landslides.

The scheme, being run by run by milk cooperative societies and the state governments Dairy Development Board, has identified 131 beneficiaries and gifted cows to 40 among them.

Kerala Feeds chairman K S Indusekharan Nair, who inaugurated the district-level 'Snehasparsham' programme, said the Irinjalakuda-headquartered PSU has allocated cattle feed worth Rs 5.17 crore to the flood-affected dairy farmers of the state since the August calamity.

Teja, addressing the gathering, recalled that the district administration had rescued 1,200 cattle-heads during the floods.

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Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Two people were killed, and another was severely injured after a goods vehicle transporting poultry birds allegedly rammed into a stationary truck on a national highway in Belagavi in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Wasim (28) and Mubarak (22), both natives of Shivamogga district, they said.

The driver of the vehicle, Basavaraj Eerappa Hanchinamani (37), suffered critical injuries and has been admitted to a hospital, police said.

According to police, the accident occurred when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, allegedly due to drowsiness, and crashed into a truck parked along the highway.

The goods vehicle was en route from Kolhapur to Sorab in Shivamogga district, carrying poultry. Several chickens were also killed in the impact, a senior police officer said.

Police personnel from the Hirebagewadi Police Station visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Injured people and the bodies of the deceased were shifted to a hospital, police added.