Stray animals pose growing traffic hazard in Palampur

Despite repeated public protests and appeals, local authorities in Palampur, including the Municipal Corporation, have failed to address the growing menace of stray animals, which have become a major traffic hazard and are increasingly linked to fatal accidents in the town and surrounding areas.

Commuters have raised serious concerns about the dangers of traveling on the Pathankot-Mandi and Palampur-Dharamsala highways, where stray animals frequently obstruct traffic. “Motorists often drive at high speed on these roads, but stray animals suddenly appear in their path, forcing them to apply brakes abruptly. This has resulted in several accidents, some of them fatal,” said one local resident.

In a recent tragic incident, two bikers lost their lives on the Pathankot-Mandi highway after colliding with a black bull that was sitting in the middle of the road and was invisible in the dark. Several such cases have been reported where both light and heavy vehicles have met with accidents due to animals wandering on busy roads.

The situation is particularly severe in areas such as Nagri, Gopalpur, Paror, Maranda, Kalu Di Hatti, Ghuggar, Lohana, and Aima villages. Within Palampur town, stray cattle are commonly seen near the Kalibari Temple, Plaza Market, and SSB Chowk, posing a daily threat to both pedestrians and motorists. So far, three people have died in the town after being attacked or hit by stray bulls.

Adding to public frustration is the fact that a cow sanctuary built two years ago at a cost of Rs 5 crore, spread across 50 acres near Palampur, remains non-operational due to bureaucratic hurdles and administrative delay. The Animal Husbandry Department, which is responsible for the facility, has reportedly not taken any steps to make the sanctuary functional.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that the state government collects Re 1 per bottle from liquor contractors to fund homes for stray cattle. These funds are transferred to the Deputy Commissioners of respective districts. However, very few have taken effective action, and the issue remains largely unaddressed.

Several voluntary organisations and social bodies have urged Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa to take immediate steps to operationalise the cow sanctuary at Nagri. They allege that both the Municipal Corporation and the Animal Husbandry Department have failed to curb the stray animal problem, primarily due to lack of resources and funding.

As the threat to life and safety continues, residents are demanding urgent intervention to prevent further loss of life and ensure safer roads in Palampur.

Himachal Tribune