Cow dies in mishap

CANACONA, SEPT 19
A truck driver had a lucky escape, after the truck encountered a herd of cattle at Nagorcem-Canacona early Sunday morning.
Scrap-carrying truck (KA-14-6474) from Shimoga-Karnataka was proceeding towards Cuncolim when the driver encountered a herd of cattle on reaching Nagorcem at about 4.30 am on Sunday.
The sudden application of brakes by the truck driver, left a cow dead, seriously injuring a calf, while the truck steered off the highway destroying a roadside tree, before it came to a halt just across to a dump of steel rods.
It is learnt that several other cattle, which came on the highway, ran helter-skelter. Sunday morning saw fire service personnel reaching the mishap site to clear the destroyed tree and the dead cow.
According to truck driver Mahboob Abdul Karim Sab, who reportedly escaped unhurt in the mishap, saw the cattle herd suddenly jumping onto the highway, taking him off-guard.
In his effort to avoid direct hit with the cattle, he hit the truck to a roadside tree and the truck too suffered damages to its bonnet and other parts.
It may be recalled that several incidents of highway motorists driving into the stray cattle, especially at night, is a regular feature in Canacona NH section.
Incidents of two-wheelers and other light vehicles, besides the riders, suffering damages and injuries are sometimes common in this section.
In most such cattle-hit cases, heavy vehicles proceeds on their route while the dead or seriously hurt cattle stretch out on the road, which are later cleared either by municipal council or fire-services, however, the actual cattle owners prefers to remain aloof hardly making any claims on dead bovines as its disposal incurs expenditure.