A tragic incident occurred in Nagpur's Gawalipura area on Monday afternoon when a tree uprooted by strong winds brought down an old boundary wall onto a cattle shed, killing a cow and a calf. The event has once again highlighted the ongoing presence of cattle sheds in densely populated residential localities.
Details of the Incident
The accident took place around 3pm when the uprooted tree crashed onto the aging boundary wall of a local wrestling arena. A section of the wall collapsed onto a makeshift cattle shed adjoining the premises, trapping four bovines under the debris, according to an official.
A cow and a calf belonging to local cattle owner Hemant Phulsunge died on the spot. Another cow and calf were rescued by residents and emergency responders. No human injuries were reported, officials added.
Rescue Operations
Personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services Department reached the spot within minutes and carried out rescue operations to extricate the trapped animals. Preliminary estimates placed the cattle owner's loss at around Rs 50,000.
Community Concerns
The mishap has reignited a long-standing dispute over the presence of cattle sheds in Gawalipura, a congested residential and commercial locality. Residents and shopkeepers alleged that repeated complaints against what they described as unauthorized cattle sheds went unaddressed despite concerns over safety, sanitation, and encroachments.
Locals said the incident could have had far more serious consequences had the wall collapsed a few feet away, where residents, pedestrians, and customers regularly pass through the narrow lanes. "We have been opposing these cattle sheds for years. Authorities only wake up after such incidents," said a resident.
Aftermath
Following the mishap, teams from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation cleared the debris, while the carcasses of the dead animals were transported to Bhandewadi for disposal.
