SANGUEM: A couple returning home in a van with their daughter from Ponda were injured as the husband swerved to avoid hitting bison on the road and rammed into an electric pole.
On reaching Sulcorna on the road passing through the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Babuso Gaonkar, who was at the wheel, saw a herd of bison crossing the road and the accident occurred when he swerved to avoid them.
While the daughter escaped unhurt, Babuso sustained simple injuries but his wife Nayani was admitted to the South Goa District Hospital as she suffered head injuries.
Cases of people from remote villages of Sanguem taluka suffering due to wild animals while travelling on the roads through Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary have been increasing in the last few months.
Worst affected is the Rivona to Sulcorna belt where bison have been sighted quite regularly thereby forcing people to worry for their safety while returning home from their work.
It may be recalled that a couple of months back, one youth while returning from work in the night, died on the spot as his two-wheeler hit a bison here.
Earlier this month there was the case of a leopard that pounced on three different vehicles including two wheelers due to which two siblings were injured.
It is quite worrisome that pleas from the locals to protect them from the wild animals endangering movement on the road have fallen on deaf ears till now.
