Team Herald
MARGAO: The death of a 42-year-old man after being gored by a stray buffalo has sparked anger among Cuncolim residents, who blame the authorities for failing to address the stray cattle menace.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday when Ratnakar Gaonkar was fatally attacked by a stray buffalo in Cuncolim. Local leader Elvis Gomes said the Gaonkar community in Panzorconi, which has deep knowledge of cattle behaviour, had warned the authorities about the buffalo’s erratic nature well in advance, but no action was taken.
"It is not the rogue buffalo, but a non-responsive system that led to this young man’s death," Gomes said, adding that while no amount of compensation can replace a life, the government must provide immediate relief to the bereaved family.
Prasad Dessai, another resident, criticised the Cuncolim Municipal Council and other authorities for ignoring repeated complaints.
"Due to their negligence, a man has lost his life. This is not the first such incident—there have been multiple accidents involving stray cattle along the National Highway, many of them fatal," he said.
The Green Goa Foundation, an environmental organisation, has filed multiple petitions urging action, but locals say no concrete measures have been taken to resolve the issue.