November 6, 2025

In the busy city of Coimbatore, a motorcyclist’s ride suddenly turned wild and painful on Tuesday. On a narrow street at Kasthurinaickenpalayam near Vadavalli, he crashed into a stray horse that crossed his path. The man, who works as a drinking water tap operator, was not just knocked down but also bitten by the frightened animal before it bolted away. Surveillance cameras caught the dramatic moment on the evening of November 4. Two horses were running freely along a narrow street with a blind curve. The rider came from the opposite side and collided with one of the galloping horses. The rider fell hard on the road and was then bitten, adding injury to injury. Amarnath, a local resident, shared insight: "There are around 10 horses roaming within a one-kilometre radius here. Such incidents have not happened before." However, locals are now worried after this surprise attack from a stray horse. Animal welfare activists say this is not just bad luck but a 'man-made situation.' They explain, "Owners let horses roam freely and take them back only when mares give birth, after which the foals are sold. Even if the Corporation fines them for letting the animals roam freely, the practice continues." Officials and activists call for stricter rules like microchipping horses and keeping clear records of ownership to stop such accidents. Meanwhile, a senior Corporation official admitted there are no current facilities or staff to care for these free-roaming horses. "We are exploring options for NGOs to manage the horses, and a permanent solution will be worked out," the official said. This incident sheds light on rising safety concerns in the city streets, as more horses wander freely, creating risks for both riders and pedestrians. Can Coimbatore find a way to tame this rogue horse situation? Time will tell.

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Motorcycle Accident, Stray Horse, Coimbatore, Animal welfare, Public safety,