Commuters fume as stray cows roam free on Bhandari Bridge in Amritsar

The stray cow menace in the holy city has reached an alarming proportion with animals now roaming freely on the iconic Bhandari Bridge, a critical artery connecting the city’s two sides. Earlier, stray cows were seen roaming around the whole city. Cows were never spotted on the bridge where at least nine roads converge from all sides.

The bridge is also the entry point for thousands of vehicles coming from the Jalandhar side and beyond. “I was driving to my shop when I saw a herd of stray cows occupying the entire bridge. It was a nightmare for me to drive past them,” said local shopkeeper Rohan Kumar.

Residents wonder if stray animals did not leave the bridge by night, it would be a big trouble for vehicle drivers as they would not be able to spot them due to dense fog.

“Roaming stray cattle is not just a nuisance, but also a safety hazard. We demand immediate action to relocate these animals to cow shelters,” said local resident Sarita Mehta. She said passengers in vehicles might get fatally injured and cows too were at risk if any mishap happened.

“Stray cows raise larger issues like cattle abandonment and lack of animal shelters. We need a comprehensive solution to the problem, said animal welfare expert, Dr Sunita Sharma. She said the government collects cow cess on liquor, electricity and even purchase of vehicles, but the problem still persists.

Residents have demanded swift action to restore order and safety on city’s streets. They complained that hungry animals in absence of fodder feed on greenery in the city and destroy saplings.

The municipal corporation (MC) too has drawn flak for failing to address the issue. “We’re doing our best to resolve the issue, but it is complex,” said MC Commissioner. He said efforts were on to shift all stray animals to cow shelters.