Stray cattle on NH stretches a threat to commuters

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 9

The presence of stray cattle on both side of the Bathinda-Zirakpur (NH-7) and Bathinda-Amritsar (NH-54) National Highways goes on unchecked. As a result, a number of accidents have taken place along these highways, but the authorities have not taken steps to check their presence on roads.

Commuters along National Highway 7 are a harried lot. They are always at a risk as stray animals come on the road any moment leading to accidents.

A local resident, Gurmeet Singh, said “A few days ago, as I was travelling on NH 7, a buffalo suddenly appeared in front of my car. I immediately applied the brakes to save the animal as well as my vehicle. It was a narrow escape but I could not help cursing the authorities concerned of the highway.”

Another resident Jai Kumar said, “On the one hand, the authorities show zero tolerance as far as obstruction of smooth flow of traffic on National Highway is concerned, on the other hand stray animals come on road without any restriction as such. The commuters on the other hand are generally at a good speed on the NH and any animal appearing all of a sudden may cause not only damage to the vehicle but also to the commuters.”

Commuters demands that railings should be affixed on toll road so that no stray animal can pose a risk to the lives. The authorities promote a hassle-free road but they have always showed little concern as far as finding a permanent solution of the problem of stray menace is concerned.