A tragic incident occurred in Chennai on Thursday night when a 30-year-old man, Dharmadurai, was killed after his bike collided with a stray cow. The incident took place near Somangalam, close to Tambaram, as Dharmadurai was returning home from work on the Kundrathur-Sriperumbudur road. Witnesses reported that a herd of cattle was grazing by the roadside, and one cow suddenly ran onto the road, causing the accident. Dharmadurai’s bike collided with the cow, throwing him onto the road, where he was subsequently run over by a truck carrying cement ready-mix. The impact of the truck was fatal, and Dharmadurai died on the spot.
The Tambaram police traffic investigation wing registered a case of causing death by negligence and initiated an investigation into the incident. Dharmadurai’s body was sent to Chromepet Govt Hospital for postmortem. Authorities are actively searching for the owner of the stray cattle involved in the accident.
Following this incident, Tambaram city police announced that strict action will be taken against cattle owners who allow their animals to roam freely on roads. Offenders could face up to three years in jail and a fine of 5,000. Additionally, vehicles involved in accidents caused by reckless and negligent driving will be impounded.
This incident underscores the growing concern about the dangers posed by stray cattle on roads. Just a few weeks ago, on July 4, a pillion rider named Vijaya was killed when her husband’s bike collided with a herd of cows on GST Road near Srinivasapuram signal at Guduvancherry. On the same day, a 48-year-old pedestrian, Thulukanam, was run over by a truck near Singaperumal Koil while trying to escape from a group of chasing cows.
The recent spike in accidents involving stray cattle has prompted authorities to take action to address the issue. The city police have issued a strong warning to cattle owners, urging them to ensure their animals are properly secured and prevented from roaming on roads. The safety of road users is paramount, and strict enforcement of regulations will be implemented to prevent future tragedies.
