Perilous path

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20: A 57-year-old advocate was gored to death by a bull at Badagada here today, triggering mob fury.

Irate local residents damaged several passing vehicles, including an ambulance, alleging that had it arrived on time, the victim, Surya Narayan Mishra, could have been saved.

The incident took place near Badagada School when a bull attacked Mishra, a resident of Badagada Brit Colony, while he was driving a two-wheeler with his wife riding pillion.

Eyewitnesses said that Mishra was trying to cross the road on which two bulls were engaged in a fight.

One of them attacked the advocate, thrusting his horns into his chest. “The couple fell to the ground. The bull also smashed the forehead of Mishra with its hoof,” said Saroj Panigrahi, an eyewitness.

Mishra, an advocate practising in the Bhubaneswar Court, died on the spot, while his wife was admitted to Capital Hospital with serious injuries. Following the incident, local residents summoned an ambulance but the vehicle allegedly took more than 30 minutes to reach the spot. Thisprovoked mob fury.

The angry residents allegedly manhandled the ambulance driver for arriving late. The mob also blocked the Badagada-Kalpana Road for about an hour. The blockade was withdrawn following police intervention.

“Mishra’s life could have been saved had the ambulance arrived on time. The couple was waiting for medical assistance. However, he died of profuse bleeding,” said Prabhakar Sahu, a local resident.

The local residents said cattle menace was on the rise in their area.

“A college student was hospitalised following a bull attack last month. Though we have repeatedly asked the civic authorities to keep the cattle off roads, they are yet to take any action,” alleged another local resident.