Pathanamthitta: A cow and a calf died after consuming the leaves of the oleander (Arali) plant at Adoor. Pankajavaliamma’s four-month-old calf and a four-year-old cow died in this manner.

The postmortem examination revealed poison from oleander leaves to be the cause of death. This was confirmed by the District Veterinary Officer.

The oleander plant cut down by neighbouring households was given to the calf and cow along with the fodder. After showing symptoms of indigestion, medicine was bought from the panchayath and given but the calf died last Thursday.

After the cow continued to show discomfort, a person was summoned from the veterinary hospital to administer an injection. Fodder scraps nearby raised suspicions and when the cow also died by Friday evening, an autopsy was conducted.