Stray bull snuffs out life of photographer in Machhiwara

Ludhiana: A stray bull claimed the life of a photographer in Machhiwara early on Tuesday.
Gurmail Ram, 45, was a resident of Machhiwara’s Old Vegetable Market.
His brother Paramjeet Singh said, “We were sleeping at our house when around 2.30am Gurmail woke up to relieve himself. A few minutes after he went outside the house, a stray bull attacked him and tossed him into the air. On hearing his shrieks, we rushed out and found him crying in pain. He had suffered several grievous injuries. We took him to civil hospital in Machhiwara, where doctors declared him dead.”
On learning about the incident, a police team reached the hospital and shifted the body to Samrala civil hospital for post-mortem.
Gurmail is survived by his wife and four children.
The incident sent shock waves through the town.
Social worker Shiv Kumar Shivly said, “Even as the government collects cow cess, it has failed to address the stray cattle issue. It is risky to step out as cattle roam the streets and can attack anyone.”
The area councillor, Paramjit Singh Pamma, visited the bereaved family and said, “Gurmail was the sole earning member of his family. The government should adequately compensate them.”
Surjeet Singh, a resident of the area, said, “The government should address the menace of stray cattle. The animals not only attack residents, but also cause accidents.”
Police have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC
Samrala SDM Geetika Singh said, “We have taken up the issue with the municipal committee and asked them to take action. The government has set up infrastructure and roped in an NGO to run cowshed. But society, too, should come forward to address the issue and support the government.”
Fatal accidents
April 16, 2018: A vehicle service station owner, Harwinder Singh, 40, of Gurugarh village, died after a stray bull hit him on Machhiwara-Lohara Road
September 9, 2017: Meena Devi, 65, who was from Bihar, died after a stray bull attacked her in Sunet village, near BRS Nagar
Deadly bite
Not just stray cattle, stray dogs, too, wreak havoc in the district
January 26: A pack of stray dogs mauled a four-year-old boy, Viraj Kumar, to death in Khanna’s Bahomajra village
February 18: Canines kill 12-year-old Simran at a field in Naulri Khurd