Bengaluru: A fire gutted two fodder godowns at a private goshala near Bidarahalli, east Bengaluru, on March 17, destroying dry grass worth over Rs 2.2 crore.Pukhraj Maharaj, 41, who has been running Shri Krishna Goshala for seven years, said the shelter houses 1,158 cows rescued from slaughterhouses with the help of organisations and police. The facility has sustained through support from devotees and govt assistance, he said.The facility had stocked dry fodder for nearly a year, procured from farmers in Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Sathanur, Bagalur and nearby areas. On March 17, Maharaj had stepped out with workers to procure additional fodder near Hunsur village. Minutes later, a worker alerted his daughter about the fire. Maharaj rushed back to find two fodder storage units engulfed in flames. The cows were shifted to a safe place as firefighters battled the blaze for hours.Maharaj alleged unidentified persons deliberately set fire to the stored fodder.A senior police officer said forensic science officials collected samples of the burnt fodder. “If the remains contain traces of petrol or diesel, it will confirm sabotage,” the officer said.
