LALITPUR, May 9: Locals are getting more worried on the killing of cattle than any damages caused by the quake to their belongings.
A massive earthquake that struck the nation on April 25 killed a large number of cattle in rural areas of the district, increasing farmers' woes, as livestock is the mainstay to eke out their livelihood.
Suresh Lama, a local of Ghusel VDC-9 of Lalitpur, said that he is reeling under a painful situation for losing house, sheds and three buffalos in the disaster. He added that he was running his house from the sale of milk.
Similarly, Rajendra Adhikari, a local of Gotikhel, lamented the loss of livestock as he was sustaining household expenses from the sale of milk. He even had managed his children's educational costs in Kathmandu with the support of this but all his dreams faded away in no time when his milking buffalos were killed in the quake. "The milk business way the ony source of income to sustain livelihood of my 12-member family", he added in a mourning tone.
According to the statistics of the District Livestock Office, as many as 131 milking buffalos, 22 milking cows and 3,083 chickens were killed in the devastating quake. According to Prithvi Narayan Joshi, concerned official of DLO, the loss of livestock in the district has amounted to Rs 13,34 million.
Likewise, as many as 81 buffalos, 19 cows and 48 goats sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in the district.
According to the office sources, 75 veterinary technicians have been mobilized for the treatment of the livestock in the quake affected areas.
Milk Producers Association Chairperson Ram Parsad Acharya said daily about 40,000 litres of milk used to be consumed in the district but the consumption pattern has been affected due to the loss of milking cattle in the quake.
He further said a large number of livestock were found killed in 19 VDCs in the southern belt of the district. The southern part contributes about 70 per cent of the milk supply in the market.
On the other hand, the District Administration Office has stated that some 5,500 livestock might have been killed in the district due to the quake. RSS
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