Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had a narrow escape on Saturday, when his vehicle collided with a stray cow in Bareilly. The incident occurred on the Pilibhit Bypass Road near the Bajrang Dhaba, a well-known roadside eatery, while the deputy chief minister’s convoy was en route to the Bareilly airport following a series of official and personal engagements in the district.
The accident took place at approximately 8.30 pm under the jurisdiction of the Baradari police station. According to witnesses and security personnel, a stray cow suddenly emerged from the darkness and wandered onto the high-speed bypass road, directly into the path of Maurya’s SUV. Although the driver attempted to brake sharply to avoid a full-on impact,
the vehicle struck the animal, resulting in significant damage to the front bumper and bonnet. The force of the collision caused a moment of panic among the security detail, who immediately cordoned off the area to ensure the deputy CM’s safety.
Maurya, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, was reported to be completely unhurt. Security protocols were swiftly enacted, and he was shifted to a secondary vehicle within the convoy to continue his journey to the airport, from where he departed for Lucknow. Former MLA Boharan Lal Maurya, who was also travelling in the same vehicle, confirmed that all occupants escaped without injury. Local officials later noted that the cow sustained minor injuries but was able to walk away from the site shortly after the impact.
Earlier in the day, the deputy CM had visited Bareilly to offer his condolences to the family of the late BJP MLA Shyam Bihari Lal, who passed away earlier this month. He had also attended a public “Chaupal” in Faridpur and visited neighbouring Budaun before the accident occurred. In the wake of the incident, Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh stated that the local municipal commissioner has been instructed to take more rigorous steps to manage stray cattle on the bypass, particularly during VIP movements. The accident has once again brought the recurring issue of stray animals on Uttar Pradesh’s highways to the forefront of local political discourse, with residents calling for more effective ground-level implementation of road safety policies.
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