Daijiworld Media Network- Brahmapur

Brahmapur, Sep 9: Veterinary doctors at a government-run hospital in Ganjam district removed nearly 40 kg of plastic waste, including polythene bags, from the stomach of a stray cow.

According to Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Anjan Kumar Das, the five-year-old cow underwent a three-hour surgery on Monday. “The animal is stable after the operation and will remain in the hospital for about a week,” he said.

Veterinary surgeon Satya Narayan Kar, who led the team, said stray cattle feeding on leftover food wrapped in plastic often consume the material. “This blocks their intestines, and if untreated, they may die,” he explained.

The cow was brought from Hilpatna to the hospital in an animal ambulance on Sunday after its condition failed to improve with initial treatment. It had been showing signs of severe pain, struggling to pass stool and urine, and repeatedly kicking its belly.

Kar said a clinical examination revealed heavy accumulation of plastic waste in the stomach, prompting the major surgery.

This is not the first such case. In 2023, veterinary surgeons at the same hospital had removed around 30 kg of plastic from another stray cow.

The incident once again highlights rampant use of polythene in Silk City despite a ban on its manufacture, transport, and use. Environmental activist Sudhir Rout urged Berhampur Municipal Corporation to strictly enforce rules against plastic use.