A disturbing video of a horse collapsing on a busy street in Kolkata has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage and sparking fresh debate about the treatment of working animals in urban India.
The heartbreaking footage shows the frail, emaciated animal collapsing under the scorching heat, visibly exhausted. Instead of offering assistance, the horse’s handler is seen hitting and dragging the animal, prompting anger from citizens and animal rights groups across the country.
The video, originally shared by PETA India, quickly gained traction online. The organisation tagged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a plea to end this cruelty. “Horses who are severely underweight, dehydrated, and in pain are not a tourist attraction,” PETA India posted on X, urging the government to adopt electric carriages as a humane and modern replacement.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Horses who are severely underweight, dehydrated, and in pain are not a tourist attraction.
Respected @MamataOfficial, @SwapanDebnath98, @KolkataPolice, please send the horse to a sanctuary & replace cruel horse-drawn carriages with e-vehicles. #SaveKolkataHorses https://t.co/Xr0nP0DW6e
— PETA India (@PetaIndia) May 1, 2025
Celebrities Join the Call for Change
Among those who voiced their concern was actor Pooja Bhatt, who condemned the incident in a strong statement. “Heartbreaking. A horse collapses on Kolkata’s streets from heat & exhaustion & is pushed to continue… Beseech you’ll ban these cruel horse-drawn carriages & switch to humane, progressive e-carriages.”
Social media users echoed the sentiment. “This is damn cruel! Are they even feeding the horse?” one user questioned, while another demanded justice: “Such people should be punished without mercy.”
FIR Filed, Horse Under Veterinary Supervision
Reacting to the public uproar, Kolkata Police confirmed legal action against the handler. “Over the incident, Bhowanipore PS has registered the FIR on 24.04.2025… under proper sections of law of BNS & PCA Act on PETA’s complaint,” the department wrote on X.
Authorities have since placed the horse under veterinary care. Officials assured that the animal is receiving proper medical attention. PETA later acknowledged the swift response, stating, “Nobody should have to endure such cruelty!”
This incident has reignited the long-standing demand to ban horse-drawn carriages in Indian cities, especially as rising temperatures make such practices increasingly inhumane. For many, the viral video is not just a one-off case—it’s a wake-up call demanding systemic change.
