A frenzied bull unleashed panic in Brahmagiri, Puri, on Saturday, resulting in the tragic death of an elderly woman and injuries to several others in Alarpur and nearby areas.
Around 11 a.m., the bull targeted Saraswati Nayak, a resident of Padmapur village near Alarpur, as she was on her way to pick up her grandson from school. The animal gored her, inflicting severe injuries to her chest and arm, leading to profuse bleeding. Local residents rushed her to the Rebana Nuagaon Community Health Centre, where doctors pronounced her dead.
The bull’s attacks left multiple villagers, both men and women, injured, with victims receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the animal charged through the streets, targeting anyone in its path.
Local residents, along with Fire Services Officer Gobardhan Behera and his team, managed to subdue the bull after a tense operation. However, the fire department refused to transport the animal, leaving villagers to handle the situation. Frustrated, the community took the bull to the Brahmagiri Veterinary Hospital, only to be turned away by the veterinarian, who refused to treat or house the animal.
Angered by the lack of response, villagers placed the bull on the Puri-Satapada National Highway near Gopachak, blocking the road in protest. The demonstration prompted action from the Brahmagiri police, who pacified the crowd and relocated the bull to a nearby goshala (cow shelter). However, locals expressed dismay over the administration’s failure to assist the victims or the deceased’s family.
The incident has raised concerns about stray animals and the lack of coordinated response from authorities, leaving the community in shock and mourning.