Locals raise concern over growing stray cattle in Gurugram

Gurugram residents are alarmed by over 7,000 stray cattle on roads, posing risks to safety; incidents have resulted in injuries and fatalities.

Gurugram:

More than 7,000 stray cattle are currently on the streets of Gurugram, according to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG). (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Residents of Gurugram have raised concerns over the growing number of stray cattle on city roads, alleging that animals pose a risk to pedestrians and commuters.

More than 7,000 stray cattle are currently on the streets of Gurugram, according to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).

According to residents, several stretches in Gurugram, including Ambedkar Chowk towards Sohna Road, Wazirabad, Sikanderpur, Sunset Boulevard, Khushboo Chowk, Maidawas Road, and several sectors in Old Gurugram, Old Railway Road, and Gurugram-Faridabad road, are among the areas where stray cattle are frequently spotted on roads.

In January, an auto trying to dodge stray cattle flipped on Golf Course Road, killing two people while one was critically injured.

Akash Vats, a commuter who travels to his office in Sector 67, said he had several close calls while riding a bike taxi when stray cattle suddenly crossed his path.

“They come in suddenly, and sometimes it is difficult to regain balance instantly,” he said.

Savita Devi, a resident of Sector 46, said dairy farm owners at times threaten residents or people who call the MCG to report stray cattle. “Most of these cattle are actually not stray; they are owned by dairy operators in the city. They release them in the afternoon, and when residents call MCG officials to catch the cattle, they start threatening them,” she said.

“There are so many stray cattle on the internal roads of our sector that they eventually enter the park meant for residents. Even residents are now scared to enter the park,” she added.

MCG officials said a fresh tender for appointing two agencies to catch stray cattle and relocate them to shelters was floated on August 11 at a total cost of ₹1.8 crore

Dr Naresh Kumar, joint commissioner of MCG, said the agencies currently engaged by the civic body had failed to comply with their contractual obligations and were penalised for non-compliance.

Meanwhile, in Faridabad, nearly 10,000 stray cattle are reportedly roaming the city’s streets.

Dr Nitesh Parwal, nodal officer for stray cattle at the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF), said nine vehicles would now be deployed to capture the animals and transport them to cow shelters.

Earlier on August 12, HT reported that a 38-year-old man died after his scooter allegedly rammed into cattle sleeping in the middle of a dark road in Faridabad’s NIT-2.

In another incident on August 6, a truck collided with cows sitting on the road in Sector 18. In April, a woman and her two daughters were injured after being hit by stray cattle in Faridabad.