VMC issues notices to cattle pounds in Vadodara; one killed, one injured in collision with stray cattle

In the first incident that occurred at around 3.30am on Sunday, a resident of New Sama Road, Sandeep Negi, crashed into a cow near Mehsana Nagar, while he was returning home from a friend’s place. The impact of the collision was such that Negi was thrown off from the motorcycle and crashed into the road divider, succumbing on the spot. In CCTV footage of the incident that are now public, Negi’s motorcycle can be seen crashing into a cow sitting in the middle of the road and the rider then being thrown off due to the impact. The motorcycle continues to skid on the road for a distance before coming to a halt while Negi crashes into the divider, head on, the video shows.

Fatehgunj Police Inspector AM Gadhavi told The Indian Express an FIR had been lodged against Negi for “alleged rash and negligent driving”. Gadhavi said, “We have taken the complaint of the brother of the deceased. On primary investigation, it has been found that the motorcyclist crashed into the cow after losing balance. The animal had not charged at the two-wheeler… The case of rash and negligent driving has been lodged against the deceased.”

In another incident in the Soma Talav area, a youth was injured on Sunday after his two-wheeler crashed into a bovine, causing the rider to skid over a distance of about 15 feet on the road along with his motorcycle. The injured rider was rushed to a private hospital for treatment after sustaining serious injuries on his face, neck and ears.

In both cases, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC)’s cattle impounding department has served notices to illegal cattle pounds. Mangesh Jaiswal, Director of Encroachment Removal Department told this newspaper that since April this year, the VMC has impounded 2065 cattle and relocated them to Panjrapole near the city while a penalty of Rs 14.52 lakhs has been collected. Jaiswal told this newspaper the civic body had been conducting a continuous drive to curb the menace of stray cattle.

“In 2024-25, a total of 3355 cattle were impounded and we have already impounded 2065 cattle since April this year. These cattle are confined in the Panjrapole and Gaushalas with whom VMC has tied up for the care and shelter of these stray cattle. We have registered 148 FIRs in this year so far, compared to 265 FIRs in 2024-25,” Jaiswal said. The VMC had collected a fine of Rs 26.44 lakh last year.

“Additionally, a total of 2929 cattle in 2024-25 and 1955 since April so far have got the RFID and plastic tagging while 30 habitual offenders each in 2024-25 as well as since April this year have been referred to the Vadodara city police for stern action. The habitual offenders are those having more than one FIR against them,” Jaiswal said.