How do Cows Die in India? Speeding Train Mows down 5 Cows on Maravoor Railway Bridge
How do Cows Die in India? Speeding Train Mows down 5 Cows on Maravoor Railway Bridge, Mangaluru
Mangaluru: How do cows die in India, other than being slaughtered? Strange as it may sound, but it seems more and more are dying after coming under speeding trains across the country, and for that matter inn DK, and in and around Mangaluru. But none from the railways department are taking any precautions from such accidents happening. However we need to also blame the owners of the cows for allowing innocent cows loiter around the tracks, when speeding trains pass by every now and then. And if you don’t believe me, take a train and peep out of the window, and you’ll notice what I am talking about.
Sources reveal that from just about 2,183 cases across the Indian Railways in 2015-16, the number had jumped to over 10,105 in the financial year ending March 2018, signifying a 362 per cent rise. This year, since April, 6,900 cattle have died after being hit by running trains, a 112 per cent jump from the same period last fiscal. A majority of the cases are happening in North Central Railway, Delhi-based Northern Railway and Madhya Pradesh-based West Central Railway — each accounting for around 18 per cent of all cattle deaths on tracks.
Every case of a cattle — including cow and its progeny — getting run over delays trains, often even damages engines, depending on the speed at which the locomotive hits it. “It is a social problem. Our tracks are not fenced and run through open fields in the country. Often cattle come on the tracks and get run over. Cattle owners are aware of this,” had said Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani to media.
With governments cracking down on cow slaughter, and saffron organizations raising their voices against cow slaughter, more and more farmers are abandoning cows after they stop producing milk. It is learnt that Cow deaths due to accidents on tracks and roads have increased, but they are mostly cows roaming astray after they stop giving milk. They are mostly desi breed. And this problem will only grow in the coming years. “Is this not cow slaughter?” said on e official.
Inputs from loco drivers and field units indicate that cattle are also often brought to graze on the green patches along tracks. At divisional level, station staff and security personnel try to sanitize villages to try and keep them off the tracks, but this is clearly not helping. It’s a big menace. There are unsupervised cattle and sometimes herdsmen are unable to keep a tab on them. And thus we see accidents where cows are killed by moving trains- but whose fault is it is the question still not answered?
Wednesday evening, 12 December around 4 pm or so, five cows were run over by a superfast train on the Maravoor Railway bridge, when the cows were heading back after grazing in the nearby fields. A video taken in the aftermath of the accident showed the bodies of the cows strewn around railway track. According to police it is learnt until now no complaints has been lodged in regards to the case.
Note: Pictures for illustration only