Stray animals continue to haunt Jagraon residents

Our Correspondent

Jagraon, November 29

Two deaths within a span of five days and that, too, due to stray animals in the area have once again highlighted the risk posed by the menace to lives of the people in Jagraon area. In the first incident, a youth in his twenties was killed after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a stray animal on the Jagraon-Jalandhar highway on the night of November 22.

While Lakhwinder lost his life, his younger brother Jaswinder Singh, who was riding pillion with him, was seriously injured during the mishap.

In August, too, a bus ferrying women employees of Aarti Steel overturned while trying to avoid hitting a stray animal near Baddowal. As many as eight girls were injured in the accident.

These are only a few instances of people being killed or getting injured due to stray cattle on highways in the area. In the past, too, many people have lost their lives while several others were injured by stray animals on roads, including the Ludhiana-Ferozepur national highway.

Stray animals keep roaming in the town and adjoining villages throughout the day. Besides, several animals also wander on different stretches posing a risk to commuters.

In fact, the menace of stray animals wandering on highways is not new. The Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway has been facing the problem for a long time.

The situation is more serious during night when it becomes difficult for drivers to spot stray animals due to darkness.

So far, the local administration has failed to find a solution to the problem.

When contacted, the Jagraon SDM, Ram Singh, said he would soon call a meeting of representatives of gaushalas and farmers’ organisations and discuss the problem with them.

“I will take up the matter with them and try to find out a solution to this problem. We will also try to rope in NGOs and seek their suggestions on the issue. Hopefully, we will find a solution to the problem soon,” he added.