Woman hit by stray cattle on Amrik Singh road

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 22

The stray cattle menace continues with a woman who was walking on Amrik Singh road being hit a an animal onTuesday night. The woman was injured in the incident and is under treatment at the Civil Hospital.  

After getting the information, volunteers of NGOS reached the spot and the injured were taken to the Civil Hospital. The injured have been identified as Rani Kaur.

The problem of stray cattle has become a serious issue in the city with many lives already having been lost and several injured. The situation turns worse at night when it becomes difficult for the commuters to spot the stray animals due to darkness.

Earlier this month, on June 3, another woman was injured after being hit by stray cattle on the Paras Ram Nagar main road here. The cattle suddenly came in front of her Activa and the woman fell on the road and was injured. 

Even the chairperson of the Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Kimti Bhagat had said during his visit to the city last year that as many as 312 people had lost their lives in accidents caused by stray cattle in the state in the last two-and-a-half years, there wee an estimated 1.06 lakh stray cattle roaming on Punjab roads. 

Several accidents were reported due to the stray cattle roaming around on roads. The district administration and the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) have failed to address the problem so far.

The situation is now getting serious due to the increasing number of stray cattle in the city. Herds of cows can be easily spotted at various locations. The MCB is the first civic body in the state which is imposing the cow cess to check the problem of stray cattle.

Atul Sharma, a local resident, said the Municipal Corporation should be made more accountable in the event of loss of property or death caused due to stray animals. Children are not allowed to play in the open out of the fear of stray animals.

Another local resident Sameer Garg said the administration should attach reflectors on the bodies of the cattle as at night, they stand in the middle of the road and are not visible, which results in accidents.