Re: Unsafe roads Hi guys,
came across this thread and thought this might be a good spot to kick off my first ever forum post.
This happened last year and involved a fair few people, and sadly animals.
The Equestrian Nationals were being held in Calcutta (sorry but i refuse to call it anything else) and a team comprising of privately owned horses as well as government mounts were in the process of being trucked for the event. They started off at Bhopal at the Madhya Pradesh Govt. run equestrian centre and were to reach Calcutta in 4 days. It usually takes us twice as long when we transport horses as we cannot exceed 45-50 kmph and also due to the frequent stops for water, feeding and inevitable medical attention that the animals need.
So, 2 trucks with 6 horses and 4 men + 2 drivers each are hurtling down the NH6. For some reason somewhere between Bargarh and Khendujar (its about 250 km between the two) the drivers of the trucks decided to take a detour to avoid a toll or something (the exact reason is unclear). Less that 15 kms after they had taken this detour they were stopped by a group of men (about 6-8 of them) who then proceeded to ask the drivers for "toll payment".
The drivers seemed to know what was happening but to their misfortune, the government employed grooms and horse-staff decided to try and push their weight around. Something along the lines of "This is a government vehicle and we don't pay tax or toll" was said.
Almost instantly the men fell on the vehicles and the men. What followed was a crazy brawl in which metal pipes, sticks, all sorts of leather and horse equipment was thrown about.
Damage report:
1. Both trucks windshields smashed along with all lights, indicators etc.
2. Serious denting to both vehicles.
3. Deflated/Slashed tyres.
4. All drivers sustained injuries, including on with a broken arm. (one of them fled)
5. All the equine staff (govt. & private) were injured with a couple of them having broken limbs and several of them requiring stitches.
6. 12 very very very spooked and scared horses.
Once the men were satisfied with the damage they had done, taken any material (all the leather equipment, grain, feed & medicines) and money (around Rs. 20,000) they could from the vehicles and the staff and after being convinced that no one was going anywhere, they left, probably to talk to a senior about what to do with the animals.
What happened afterwards is unclear, but they never came back.
The staff called the Bhopal Centre which then co-ordinated provisions, an escort and other supplies. These arrived only 3 days later.
The sad outcome:
1. The trucks finally got to Calcutta where they were fixed, it took them 10 days.
2. The horses were seriously malnourished and dehydrated on arrival, this led to the death of two of them. The rest remained weak and sick for several months to come (horses take time to recover from things like this)
3. The staff got patched up, and most of them were in slings and bandages for a while.
4. The owners of the horses and govt. sportsmen (who unlike us who always travel with our animals) took a flight to Calcutta only to find that they were unable to compete in those Nationals.
We have done this route several times since, in trucks, horse-floats and cars and have only once been pulled over for "toll" which we, as usual have gladly paid and passed through quietly. What I would suggest to anyone doing this route (the NH6 through Chattisgarh and Orissa) is that these guys, the Naxals, the Maoists etc do not go out of their way to harm civilians. If you are stopped, co-operate and they usually let you off quite politely. Just, for christs sake, never, ever, ever, claim to be anyone affiliated with the government, police, or army. |