The Uttar Pradesh government has started a ‘cow ambulance’ for the treatment of ailing cows. The ambulance service was flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday.

Called ‘Gauvansh Chikitsa’, the ambulance service would rescue ill or injured cows and will take them to ‘gau shalas’ or a veterinary doctor. A veterinarian will be present in the ambulance along with an assistant. A “gau seva toll-free number” has been also released so that common people can come forward to rescue cows, reports The Hindu.

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The report added that the service is being run in collaboration with MGNREGA Mazdoor Kalyan Sanghathan and will be first introduced in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mathura and Allahabad. 

A similar move has also been introduced in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district where the administration will soon start an ambulance for cows injured in road accidents as well as those which need medical care. According to a Hindustan Times report, a sum of Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked for buying a specially designed ‘Gau-ambulance’ which will be fitted with a hydraulic lift-powered lifting machine.