Madhya Pradesh Records One Fatal Cattle-Related Road Accident Every Three Days: Government Data Reveals Growing Crisis

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing a severe cattle problem on highways and city roads, with official statistics indicating that a person dies every three days in cattle-related road accidents. During the past two years, these incidents have claimed 94 lives and left 133 people injured. According to data presented by the state government in the Assembly on Friday, police records show 237 road accidents were caused by cattle within this timeframe.

The information was provided in response to a question from Congress MLA Ajay Arjun Singh, who requested district-specific data on stray cattle, accident numbers, agricultural damage, and potential government compensation policies.

Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Lakhan Patel explained in his written response that while district-level information on stray cattle exists through the 20th Livestock Census, police records don't distinguish between domestic and stray animals in accident reports. The Home Department confirmed the 237 cattle-related accidents resulting in 94 fatalities and 133 injuries over two years.

The minister further clarified that his department neither assesses crop damage from stray cattle nor offers compensation to affected farmers. "No provision exists for financial assistance or compensation to farmers for crop damage caused by stray cattle, and no such proposal is currently under consideration," stated Patel.

This lack of a compensation system has sparked concerns, especially with widespread reports of agricultural field damage by stray cattle throughout rural Madhya Pradesh. Legislators are now calling for the government to acknowledge this issue as both an agricultural and public safety crisis.

Meanwhile, the government revealed that its cow protection infrastructure is already under strain. The Mukhyamantri Gauseva Yojana program, along with NGOs and local authorities, currently houses approximately 4.5 lakh cattle in registered gaushalas across the state. For the 2025-26 financial year, the state government has allocated Rs 296.20 crore toward maintaining these facilities.