<p class="bodytext">Urea poisoning is suspected to have caused the death of four stray cattle within a week near New Mangalore Port (NMP) in Panambur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources told <span class="italic">DH</span> that containers filled with chemicals like urea and potash were transported from the port without mandatory precautionary measures.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chemicals that spilt from the truck dissolved in the water being sprinkled on the dusty road by New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT).</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is this contaminated water which quenched the thirst of stray cattle grazing in open areas,” animal rights activists said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About 12 days ago four cows in NMPT Koorikatta gate were found dying and gasping for breath. The animals had bloated bellies and were immediately attended to by a rescue team from Animal Care Trust (ACT) in Shaktinagar. </p>.<p class="bodytext">However, they succumbed on the spot despite the best efforts to save them. “The water sample collected from the drain was sent to a laboratory for investigation,” advocate and ACT honorary treasurer Suma Nayak told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many stray cattle are found on the road leading to Nandaneshwara Temple and Panambur beach. The cattle do not have access to clean drinking water.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Veterinary Officer Dr Kamalamma told <span class="italic">DH</span> that urea poisoning was suspected to have caused the death of the cattle. A post-mortem could not be conducted to ascertain the exact reasons behind the cattle death because the carcass had decomposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The NMPT traffic manager was not available for a quote. Suma Nayak said they had requested NMPT to prevent stray cattle deaths by placing troughs of drinking water for them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“NMPT bluntly told us that there was no provision to place troughs,” Suma said and hoped that like-minded people would take cue and place troughs with drinking water for stray cattle.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">'Port unsafe for humans'</p>.<p>Suma Nayak said that a huge drain close to the road at the port had turned into a death trap for many cattle. "We discovered the pit after a bull got trapped in it. The bull was rescued by ACT members. The drain should be barricaded," she added. </p>.<p>Panambur Beach Development Authority chairman Yatish Baikampadi said the road leading to Panambur beach near NMPT gate had become a headache for bike riders.</p>.<p>The stretch had turned slippery due to chemical litter. Many riders had hurt themselves when the vehicles skidded off the road, he added.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Urea poisoning is suspected to have caused the death of four stray cattle within a week near New Mangalore Port (NMP) in Panambur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources told <span class="italic">DH</span> that containers filled with chemicals like urea and potash were transported from the port without mandatory precautionary measures.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chemicals that spilt from the truck dissolved in the water being sprinkled on the dusty road by New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT).</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is this contaminated water which quenched the thirst of stray cattle grazing in open areas,” animal rights activists said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About 12 days ago four cows in NMPT Koorikatta gate were found dying and gasping for breath. The animals had bloated bellies and were immediately attended to by a rescue team from Animal Care Trust (ACT) in Shaktinagar. </p>.<p class="bodytext">However, they succumbed on the spot despite the best efforts to save them. “The water sample collected from the drain was sent to a laboratory for investigation,” advocate and ACT honorary treasurer Suma Nayak told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many stray cattle are found on the road leading to Nandaneshwara Temple and Panambur beach. The cattle do not have access to clean drinking water.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Veterinary Officer Dr Kamalamma told <span class="italic">DH</span> that urea poisoning was suspected to have caused the death of the cattle. A post-mortem could not be conducted to ascertain the exact reasons behind the cattle death because the carcass had decomposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The NMPT traffic manager was not available for a quote. Suma Nayak said they had requested NMPT to prevent stray cattle deaths by placing troughs of drinking water for them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“NMPT bluntly told us that there was no provision to place troughs,” Suma said and hoped that like-minded people would take cue and place troughs with drinking water for stray cattle.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">'Port unsafe for humans'</p>.<p>Suma Nayak said that a huge drain close to the road at the port had turned into a death trap for many cattle. "We discovered the pit after a bull got trapped in it. The bull was rescued by ACT members. The drain should be barricaded," she added. </p>.<p>Panambur Beach Development Authority chairman Yatish Baikampadi said the road leading to Panambur beach near NMPT gate had become a headache for bike riders.</p>.<p>The stretch had turned slippery due to chemical litter. Many riders had hurt themselves when the vehicles skidded off the road, he added.</p>