Cow survives blast after swallowing explosive meant for wild pigs

In a tragic yet miraculous incident at Barotiwala, a cow sustained grievous injuries after accidentally swallowing an explosive substance placed in a field to drive away wild pigs. The device detonated inside the animal’s mouth, causing severe damage.

The cow was initially treated at a local dispensary by Dr Puja, who referred it to the Zonal Veterinary Hospital at Barnoh in Una after noticing it could not consume any feed. A team led by Dr Nishant performed an intricate five-hour reconstructive surgery to save the animal.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the cow’s mouth was destroyed in the explosion, with a 10x16 cm section completely blown away,” said Dr Nishant. “We carried out an auto-graft procedure, removing dead tissue and using skin from a healthy area to rebuild the mouth.”

The doctors faced an additional challenge as the blast had affected the lingual nerve, depriving the cow of sensation necessary for licking and eating. To sustain it during recovery, a feeding tube was inserted through the neck for food and water intake.

Dr Nishant said the surgery had successfully restored most of the damaged area and expressed hope for substantial recovery within a month. Once the wound heals, a second operation will be considered to fully reconstruct the food cavity and restore normal function.