This is the terrifying moment a bystander was flung into the air by a stray bull in India.

A group of men was talking by the roadside when the horned beasts wandered into the area in Ghumarwin, Himachal Pradesh.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows the locals walking away from the hoofed creature before it suddenly charged at the man standing still on July 31.

The animal can be seen headbutting the victim, sending him flying into the air before he landed on his side with his head hitting the road gutter.

The cows then sprinted away from the scene as concerned onlookers quickly rushed over to help the dazed victim.

Local media reported that he was transported to a hospital, where he remains stable but under medical care after sustaining serious injuries.

Ghumarwin Municipal Council Chairperson Rita Sehgal said: 'The matter is being taken seriously. A special task team will be formed in the coming days to catch and relocate aggressive and stray animals to safe locations.

'The owners of the domesticated animals will be held accountable if their livestock is found roaming in public areas, with strict action to follow.'

India has hundreds of thousands of cows roaming its streets.

It is partly due to devout locals who follow Hindu customs, with cows regarded as sacred animals that cannot be eaten or slaughtered once they have stopped producing milk. The majority of states ban the sale or slaughter of cows.

Instead of dealing with the economic burden of keeping their spent cattle, many farmers let the beasts roam the streets - leading to chaos when the animals become agitated and turn their fury on humans.