Three cattle breeders incurred losses of about RM45,000 after 22 head of cattle belonging to them were struck dead by lightning in their shared pen at Kampung Ramuan Cina in Alor Gajah early today.

One of the owners, Sabaruddin Abd Majid, 54, said he made the discovery when he wanted to release his 46 cows from the pen at 7.30am.

“Initially I thought all the cattle were sleeping under the bamboo tree inside the pen but I was shocked when I saw 22 of them lying down and bloated,” he said when met by reporters in Alor Gajah.     

According to him, he had suspected that the incident was sabotage by certain quarters and subsequently informed the other two owners - Baharom Sharif, 54, and Zauyah Bujang, 58, - before making a report at the Lubok China police station at 11.45am.   

However he was told by the police that the affected cattle, worth between RM1,000-RM3,500, each, were believed to be struck by lightning as it was raining heavily at about 8.45pm last night.

Meanwhile, Alor Gajah district police chief Supt Mohamad Laham said police investigations showed that these cattle died of lightning strike based on the lightning marks on the bamboo tree that grew inside the pen.

- Bernama