Kottayam: When all members of a family in Thiruvarppu here were infected with COVID-19, their cows were left alone in the house with nobody to take care. District collector M Anjana intervened in the matter and shifted all the five cows to a temporary shelter of the Dairy Development Department.
The 8th member of the family was also confirmed with COVID and shifted to the COVID care centre on Wednesday morning. With this, there was nobody to feed and milk the cows. When cows are not milked regularly, it affects their health. So, the owner contacted the control room at the collectorate and sought help.
On knowing about the incident, the collector directed the deputy director of the Dairy Development Department to take immediate action to protect and milk the cows. Following this, they shifted the cows to a shelter with the help of the panchayat and Thiruvarppu milk producers society.
The panchayat authorities said that the temporary shelter will be retained even after the owner takes back the cows after they are cured. In case a similar situation arises in any other house, their cattle too can be shifted to the shelter. Panchayat and milk producers society authorities set up the shed on a compound and arranged facilities to protect the cows.
K G Sreelatha, deputy director of the Dairy Development Department, said that the Disaster Management Authority had entrusted the department to take care of the cattle in the houses where all family members are under treatment. All milk societies have been directed to make arrangements for the same as required, she added.
