Young dairy farmer loses 12 cattle to suspected poisoning in Kerala
Idukki (Kerala), Jan 1: A young dairy farmer in Kerala has faced a devastating loss as 12 out of his 20 cattle died, suspected to be poisoned by their feed.
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm on Sunday, leaving Mathew (15), visibly distressed, state Animal Husbandry Department officials said.
"Upon learning of the tragedy, the Animal Husbandry Minister J Chinchurani's office promptly intervened. Four veterinary doctors were deputed to treat the remaining cows," an official said.
Witnessing the deaths of his cattle, Mathew became distressed and was hospitalised.
Officials said that the minister had consoled him over the phone. She is planning to visit his farm on Tuesday, they said.
Preliminary reports suggest that the cattle might have been affected by a poisonous substance in the tapioca leaves used as feed, a non-conventional but cost-effective option, a source in the department said.
The tapioca leaf meal contains toxic hydrocyanic acid (HCN), he said.
Out of the 20 cows on Mathew's farm, 12 have died, three are under treatment, and a cow with four calves has survived.
The losses incurred by Mathew are estimated to be around Rs 6 lakh, officials said.
Unfortunately, the family did not have insurance for the cows, making the situation more challenging," an official told PTI.
The boy, who took over the farm two years ago at the age of 13 after his father's untimely demise, relied on tapioca leaves as a more economical alternative to conventional feed.
Mathew's brother George and younger sister assist him with managing the farm.
Despite the severe setback, officials assured that the state government would extend all possible support to help Mathew recover from the substantial loss.
The State Animal Husbandry Department and the minister have provided him with support under various schemes.
"We will help him come back," an official said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Nitish Kumar's son Nishant among 32 to take oath as Bihar ministers
Patna (PTI): In a major expansion of the Cabinet of Bihar's first BJP-led government, JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar and 31 others took oath as ministers on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Altogether 32 leaders, drawn from all constituents of the five-party NDA in the state, were administered the oath of office by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain at a grand ceremony that was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister J P Nadda and BJP president Nitin Nabin.
Prominent inductees included Nishant Kumar, the son of JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who stepped down as chief minister last month to enter the Rajya Sabha.
The BJP, which is the single largest party in the 243-member assembly with 89 MLAs, has 15 ministers, who took oath on Thursday.
Most of the inductees were those who were part of the Nitish Kumar cabinet formed in November last year after the NDA stormed back to power in the assembly polls.
The JD(U) is represented by a total of 15 ministers, 13 of whom took the oath at the Gandhi Maidan on Thursday. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav had taken oath in April along with Samrat Choudhary and were designated as deputy chief ministers.
Sanjay Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar Paswan, both from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) headed by Union minister Chirag Paswan, are back as ministers, and so are Santosh Kumar Suman and Deepak Prakash, sons of Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, respectively.
