Police Horse Killed at Eden Gardens Match by Firecrackers

A tragic incident occurred at Eden Gardens during the India-South Africa World Cup match on Sunday, resulting in the death of a police horse named ‘Voice of Reason’. The horse, belonging to the Kolkata Mounted Police, suffered a heart attack after being startled by the sudden bursting of firecrackers. The incident took place outside the cricket stadium, where the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had organized a firework display to celebrate Virat Kohli’s 35th birthday.

According to reports from the Times of India, the horse, aged 5 years and 10 months, was on duty with its handler, Animesh Chakraborty, when the incident occurred. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mounted Police officials described the horse as being in a state of “traumatic shock” after the loud noise of the fireworks, causing it to gallop away uncontrollably. The horse collided with two or three vehicles before crashing on the road.

Authorities were alerted and rushed to the scene to rescue ‘Voice of Reason’, but unfortunately, they found the horse lying motionless on the road. It was clear that the horse had suffered fatal injuries from the accident.

Cricket Association of Bengal secretary, Naresh Ojha, stated that they had obtained prior permission from the Pollution Control Board and Calcutta Police to conduct the firework display. The Times of India reported that approximately 150 aerial firecrackers were set off over a span of five minutes starting at 8:33 pm.

Despite the efforts of the horse’s handler to control the situation, he was unable to prevent the tragic outcome. The loss of ‘Voice of Reason’ has left the Kolkata Mounted Police and the cricket community in mourning.

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with firework displays and the need for strict safety measures when involving animals in such events. The authorities will likely conduct an investigation to determine if there were any lapses in safety protocols and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The loss of ‘Voice of Reason’ has not only saddened those directly involved but has also sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater awareness and precautions to ensure the well-being of animals during public events.