More than 100 cows died in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh last week in a span of two days, PTI reported on Monday. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the deaths.

The cows are suspected to have either eaten poisonous grass or consumed polluted water, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vijay Kumar was quoted as saying. A team of revenue department officials and veterinarians are visiting the places where the deaths occurred, Kumar added.

Last week, at least nine stray cows at temporary shelter homes in the nearby Shamli district reportedly died of cold.

The deaths occurred in a week during which the Adityanath government allocated Rs 447 crore for cow shelters in the state Budget for 2019-’20. This included Rs 247 crore for maintenance and construction of cow shelters in rural areas, and Rs 200 crore for the Kanha Gaushala and Destitute Cattle Shelter Scheme in urban areas.

On January 1, the state cabinet had approved a plan to set up temporary cattle shelter facilities in urban and rural areas for stray cows, and impose a “cow welfare cess” for the maintenance of these facilities.