Stray animals have turned Himachal’s highways into death traps

Himachal Pradesh: Stray cattle have become a serious problem on the state’s roads, posing a constant threat to commuters in both rural and urban areas. In the last five years, 100 accidents involving cattle have been recorded, with 40 deaths and 50 injuries. Officials believe the actual figures could be much higher, as many such accidents go unreported. In Palampur alone, seven people have lost their lives in the last two years after being attacked or hit by stray bulls in busy markets. Municipal bodies in Kangra district – which includes Palampur, Baijnath, Nagrota Bagwan and Kangra – have failed to curb this growing menace, leading to an alarming rise in fatalities involving stray cattle. The problem is particularly acute on major highways such as Pathankot-Mandi, Palampur-Dharamshala and Palampur-Jaisinghpur, where stray cattle often roam the roads. Often, drivers driving at high speeds are forced to suddenly brake or swerve when animals suddenly appear in front of them, leading to serious and sometimes fatal accidents.

Local resident Satish Sharma recalled a recent tragedy on the Pathankot-Mandi highway where four motorcyclists were killed after they ran over black bulls resting quietly in the middle of the road at night. “These animals pose a constant threat, especially after dark,” he said. The menace is rampant in areas like Paprola, Baijnath, Paror, Malan, 53 Mile, Nagri, Gopalpur, Maranda, Kalu Di Hatti, Banuri, Ghuggar, Lohana and Aima. Within Palampur town, areas like Kalibari Mandir, Plaza Market and SSB Chowk are notorious for stray cattle blocking traffic and posing a threat to pedestrians. Both experts and residents stress the urgent need for dedicated shelters to house stray animals and keep them off the roads. Enforcing accountability is equally important to ensure that stray animal management is no longer neglected. Without prompt action, speeding vehicles and roaming animals will continue to claim lives.