Hit by stray cattle, man dies of injuries

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 21

Stray cattle have taken one more life in the city. Gurdev Singh (85), a resident of Street Number 4, Nai Basti, died of his injuries after he was hit by stray cattle 13 days ago when he went out for morning walk.

After the attack, he was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana, where he died during treatment.

Gurdev Singh got 24 stitches in his stomach and he was also hit in his brain.

Around 13 persons were injured and one died due after being hit by stray cattle in the last month.

The district administration and the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) have failed to address the problem.

Stray cattle roaming around have become a serious problem. The situation turns worse at night when it becomes difficult for the drivers to spot the stray animals due to darkness.

Many lives have already been lost and many people have been injured due to accidents involving stray cattle.

The situation is now getting serious due to the increasing number of cattle. Herds of cows can be easily spotted on various roads and interior of the city.

The Municipal Corporation Bathinda is the first in the state to levy cow cess with an aim to check the problem of stray cattle menace.

The MCB collected Rs 18 lakh in cess in the last year, but delay in constructing a cattle pond has aggravated the problem.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said the construction of a cattle pond at Harraipur village had been started.

A cattle pond is coming up in 8.5 acres with an aim to tackle problem of increasing stray cattle in the city.

He said after the construction of the cattle pond was over, the Municipal Corporation was planning to hire a private firm for shifting the stray cattle from the roads in the city to the cattle pond.