Gedu Town in Chhukha is continuing to see an increasing number of abandoned cattle roaming the streets freely. Officials and locals alike are concerned about this growing issue. They say it is not only tarnishing the town’s image but also raising safety concerns.
It has become an all too familiar sight in Gedu Town to see cattle roaming the streets like they own them.
Cars weave around the animals so as to avoid collisions.
Frustrated and weary, residents say they are tired of the endless chase.
Roads and footpaths are littered with cow dung, undermining every effort to keep the town clean.
Locals say it is not just an eyesore but also a growing hazard. With Gedu sitting on a major transit route, hundreds pass through the town each day.
And when thick fog blankets the area as it often does, these stray animals become dangerous obstacles, putting lives at risk on the already treacherous roads.
Tandin, a shopkeeper from Gedu town said “Considering the location of the town with many travellers passing via the town every day, we have been instructed to keep the town clean. However, with roaming animals, it is really difficult to keep our town clean.”
Palay Dorji, Ngotshab of Gedu town said “I don’t know from where these stray animals are coming. There are countless numbers of cattle in our area.”
In response to the growing number of stray animals, the Dzongkhag Administration recently issued a notification warning appropriate action. However, according to the Gedu Town Ngotshap, there has been little to no improvement. Stray cattle continue to roam freely through the town, and their owners remain unidentified. He also shared several incidents involving vehicles hitting the stray animals in the area. Until there’s successful measures to remove the animals are put in place, motorists must exercise caution especially during foggy conditions, when visibility is low and the risks are even higher.
Kinley Dem, Gedu
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
