Stray cattle cause rising number of accidents

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Sept. 11: The stray cows, oxen and horses blocking the main roads of bustling cities like Nepalgunj, Kohalpur and Ranja have led to a rise in road accidents. However, the authorities seem indifferent to this burning issue.

According to the District Traffic Police Office, Banke, stray cattle caused 19 road accidents in Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan City in the last fiscal year.

One person died in these accidents while three others were seriously injured. Likewise, the office reported that 13 cattle died and four were injured in road accidents during the same period.

According to the office, in the current fiscal year, one individual was seriously injured in an accident caused by stray cattle.

Stray cattle on the pavement of the market area has added trouble for the commuters. 

Social activist Dr. Binod Karna from Nepalgunj said that local governments only appeared to manage stray cattle after the occurrence of accidents.

 “The local government is not serious about finding a long-term solution to this burning issue,” he said.

Likewise, another local leader from Nepalgunj, Krishna Prasad Shrestha said that they had raised the issue multiple times, but the concerned authorities had not worked on removing stray cattle from busy roads and bustling market areas. 

Meanwhile, the Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City has once again begun managing stray cattle. Nepalgunj Mayor Prashant Bista said that after the number of road accidents on the Kohalpur-Nepalgunj section of the Ratna Highway surged due to stray cattle, management efforts were resumed with the help of local authorities. 

He added that stray cattle are being managed at a cowshed built at Birta of ward number 21, with an investment of Rs. 3.5 million. The shed currently houses 126 livestock, including cows, bulls and horses.

Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City has made provisions to keep cattle in the newly built cowshed, the stray cattle are provided adequate fodder. Furthermore, the Sub-Metropolitan city has collaborated with Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality to develop additional plans for managing stray cattle. 

The provincial and federal governments have committed to providing financial assistance for the construction of cowshed for stray cattle in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality. The construction work will commence as soon as the funds are received.