Mangalore :  A pick- up vehicle transporting cattle unauthorisedly overturned near Natekal curve in the wee hours of September 13, Friday.  There were 18 cows in the vehicle and eight cows and two calves died as the vehicle after overturning fell into a nearby gorge.

It is suspected that the vehicle was heading towards Natekal from Mudipu and the cattle were taken to a slaughter house at Chembugudde. The drive of the vehicle had fled the place.

It was later when a milk van passed that way that the driver noticed and tried to rescue the cattle with the help of locals.

Police are on the look out for the driver of the pick-up vehicle. Sources said the cattle in the vehicle were the ones stolen from several places like Boliyaru, Kurnadu and Sajipa.