Cuttack: At least 13 cows were killed after a cattle-laden truck overturned near Madhupatna square here in the wee hours on Saturday.
The helper of the vehicle has died while the driver has been shifted to hospital after he sustained critical injuries in the mishap.
According to reports, the mishap occurred when the speeding truck ferrying at least 50 cows from Bhubaneswar turned turtle on the National Highway near Madhupatna at around 3 am today.
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“It is an unfortunate incident as several cows have been killed and others injured in the accident. Despite strict orders of High Court, cows are being illegally transported while no effort has been taken to put a check on such practice,” said Go Suraksha state president Suresh Panda.
Keeping in view palpable tension in the area, senior officials of Commissionerate police including local Assistant Commissioner of Police, Inspector-in-charge of Madhupatna, Purighat and Sadar police have rushed to the spot.
The officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have also launched a massive operation to rescue the injured cattle.
“The post mortem of the dead cows will be conducted while the injured animals are being shifted to the veterinary hospital for treatment. We have deployed JCB and four tractors at the spot,” said CMC deputy mayor Ajay Barik.