Kupwara, May 7, KNT: Public anger erupted in Waskoora village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after a cow allegedly died after consuming toxic garbage dumped near Nallah Talri, with residents accusing authorities of ignoring repeated pleas to stop waste disposal in the area.
Locals said the cow belonged to a poor family in the village and allegedly consumed plastic and other toxic waste material scattered around the dumping site before falling ill and dying.
The incident triggered outrage in the area, with locals questioning the continued dumping of garbage in open fields and near water channels despite repeated objections from villagers.
“Who is responsible for my cow?” a family member was heard asking as villagers gathered around the spot after the animal’s death.
Sarpanch Abdul Ahad Dar said the family suffered a major financial loss due to the death of the animal and appealed to the district administration to provide immediate compensation.
“The cow was worth around Rs 1.5 lakh and the family is in distress,” Dar told reporters, adding that the affected household depended heavily on livestock for survival and income.
He accused authorities of failing to act despite repeated requests by residents to stop garbage dumping in the area.
“We have appealed a thousand times not to dump garbage in the fields and around the nallah, but nobody paid attention,” the Sarpanch said.
Locals alleged that heaps of waste, including plastic, rotten material, and other hazardous garbage, are frequently dumped near grazing areas, posing a threat to cattle and the local environment.
Several villagers said stray and domestic animals often feed on garbage because of the absence of proper waste management and fencing around dumping spots.
Villagers urged the Kupwara administration to immediately remove garbage from the area, identify those responsible for illegal dumping, and compensate the affected family without delay.
They also demanded regular sanitation monitoring and designated waste disposal facilities away from residential and grazing zones. [KNT]
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