Too much work during the wedding season and the lackadaisical attitude of her owner claimed the life of a mare near the Dadar railway station on Sunday. Doctors, who examined the mare when it was critical, said that the animal was ailing, but was still made to toil the whole day in various marriage processions. However, the police has not taken action against anybody as no police complaint has been lodged.
“I saw the mare lying near the flyover next to Dadar station at around 10 pm. She seemed to be in a very bad condition, and her caretaker, who was in his early thirties, was standing next to her,” said Mr Sanjay Chaunkar (31) who was on his way home from work.
“We contacted a veterinarian, who reached a little while later. We ourselves arranged for a saline drip for the animal on his instructions,” said Mr Chaunkar. “The mare’s tender told us that she was used in wedding processions. The mare’s owner lives in Pilla House near Mumbai Central,” he added.
The doctor who administered first aid to the animal said that it was the lackadaisical attitude of the owner that had resulted in the mare’s condition and subsequently, her death. “The mare was very tired and clearly overworked,” said Dr Dharma Raybule, an intern at Parel’s Mumbai Veterinary College. “She was made to walk all the way from Powai. We contacted the owner, but he did not even try to come,” added Dr Raybule.
A crowd had gathered at the spot. “The mare was writhing in pain. We couldn’t take her to the hospital as she was too heavy. At around 1 am, she died,” said Mr Vinod Tambe, a resident of the area.
The ambulance of the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Animal Hospital in Parel did not reach the spot in time as well. “By the time the ambulance arrived, at around 1 am, the mare had died,” Mr Chaunkar said. The ambulance did not take away the animal, as she was already dead.
The owner of the mare finally sent a tempo to take away the body after the police contacted him.
“If we get any complaints against him, we will take action,” said senior police inspector Ashok Digambar Unde from the Dadar
police station. The tempo reportedly took the carcass to the same Bai Sarkarbai Dinshaw Petit Animal Hospital.
Lt. Col (Dr) J. C Khanna, secretary of the hospital said, “The call about the mare came to us too late, and so, we had trouble arranging for a driver. They should have contacted the ‘In Defence of Animals’ Organisation that has a contract with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to collect the injured animal. We don’t have a 24-hour service,” Dr Khanna said.