It was yet another Monday for sanitary workers of Vellore Corporation as they began cleaning up streets and clearing garbage bins in many areas of Sathuvachari. But the sunny day brought up a different task for them as they turned into Good Samaritans for an injured horse.
A group of nearly 10 sanitary workers spotted a white horse standing by the roadside behind Murugan Theatre. It was finding it difficult to walk.
“We noticed it was injured on the left thigh. We looked around for its owner,” said Y. Sasikumar, supervisor of ward 17, Vellore Corporation.
Failing to trace the owner even after some time, the sanitary officer Sivakumar and Health Officer of the Corporation Vasanth Diwakar were informed about the injured animal. “We were asked to take the animal to the veterinary clinic for treatment. All our men involved in cleaning came together and helped the animal to climb into the Corporation van,” he said. It was given some water before boarding the van.
Within minutes, the van was on its way to the Vellore Clinician Centre of the Department of Animal Husbandry near Makkan junction. The sight of the horse surrounded by the men in khaki uniform drew the attention of many road users all along the way.
“I did not expect the animal to cooperate as we are strangers to it. But it remained still while coming in the van,” said a sanitary worker.
A man, in his 20s, a resident of Sathuvachari, who refused to be named, said the horse belonged to his brother Hussain.
“The horse is engaged in taking visitors on rides inside the Vellore Fort. It went missing on Sunday night. I searched for it everywhere the next morning but could not find it. A relative of mine saw the sanitary workers taking the horse in the van this morning. He informed me immediately and I rushed to the spot,” he said.
He said a vehicle could have hit the animal, injuring it. Doctors at the Clinician Centre treated the horse for the injuries.
