A female leopard was killed after being struck by a train near Virur in Rajura taluka on Friday morning. The incident has once again highlighted the growing threat posed by railway lines that pass through forest corridors in Chandrapur district.
Discovery of the Carcass
The carcass was found near the Sindhi nullah bridge along the South Central Railway route under the Central Chanda Forest Division. Railway authorities alerted the forest department after spotting the dead animal near pole number 158/C-13, close to Virur railway station.
Response by Forest Officials
Forest personnel from the Virur range rushed to the site around 7 am and confirmed the animal to be an adult female leopard. Senior forest officials, including Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Mangesh Giradkar and Range Forest Officers Mahesh Dighe and G. R. Ingale, inspected the spot along with veterinary experts from the Animal Husbandry Department.
Preliminary Findings and Autopsy
Preliminary findings indicated that the leopard suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a moving train while attempting to cross the tracks. An autopsy was later conducted at the Sumthana nursery, following which the carcass was incinerated as per protocol.
Vulnerable Railway Tracks
The Chanda Fort-Gondia railway line and the Ballarsha-Virur-Kagaznagar railway track, both of which pass through dense forest areas with abundant wildlife, are the most vulnerable railway tracks in Chandrapur district. Wildlife activists have repeatedly raised concerns over the increasing deaths of tigers, leopards, bears, and deer on railway tracks in Chandrapur's forest belt. They have demanded urgent mitigation measures and stricter monitoring in sensitive zones.
