Tigress Fatally Struck by Train in Pilibhit Forest Buffer Zone
In a tragic incident highlighting the ongoing conflict between infrastructure and wildlife conservation, the carcass of a tigress, estimated to be five to six years old, was discovered on the Mailani-Lucknow railway track near Bhikhampur halt on Wednesday morning. Forest department officials strongly suspect the majestic feline was struck and killed by a train while attempting to cross the railway line, which cuts directly through the sensitive buffer zone of the Mailani forest range under the North Kheri forest division.
Senior Officials Rush to Scene, Autopsy Reveals Gruesome Details
Field director of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, H Rajamohan, and North Kheri divisional forest officer, Kirti Chaudhary, immediately reached the spot to assess the grim situation. While the tigress showed no visible external injuries, officials confirmed the train's impact was concentrated on the animal's head, causing catastrophic and instantly fatal internal damage.
"The jaw and heart were found severely dislocated. Excessive bleeding was found in almost every internal organ of the tigress, which also caused hemopericardium. The lungs were filled with fluid due to the heavy impact of the strike," stated Field Director Rajamohan, describing the autopsy findings.
Protocol Followed, Time of Death Established
Divisional Forest Officer Kirti Chaudhary provided further details, noting that the post-mortem examination was conducted by a panel of three veterinary officers led by Dr. Daya Shankar of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The autopsy conclusively established the time of death around 11 PM on Tuesday, which coincides with the scheduled passage of three trains through that specific section of track.
"Following the assigned protocol, the designated representatives of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the state chief wildlife warden remained present during the autopsy," Chaudhary emphasized, underscoring the procedural rigor followed in the investigation.
Railway Authorities Accused of Non-Compliance with Speed Limits
DFO Chaudhary revealed a critical point of contention, stating that despite the forest department issuing a series of formal letters and notices to railway authorities, their directives have been consistently ignored. The department had specifically demanded the installation of speedometers along forest stretches of the railway line to monitor and enforce a maximum permitted speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour, a measure intended to prevent such wildlife fatalities.
"A departmental case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act. The railway authorities will be brought within the ambit of stringent legal action if the investigation confirms the train strike," Chaudhary warned, signaling potential legal repercussions.
NTCA Vows Strict Enforcement of Speed Norms
Taking serious note of the incident, NTCA member secretary Sanjay Kumar Pathak addressed the media, asserting a firm stance on future prevention. "The NTCA will strictly enforce speed-related norms on roads and highways passing through forest areas as well as critical tiger habitats or railway lines. It will be ensured that the Indian Railways takes essential steps to fully comply with the concerned directions to protect wildlife from fatal accidents," Pathak declared, indicating heightened scrutiny and regulatory pressure on transport authorities operating near protected ecosystems.
This incident underscores the persistent threat linear infrastructure poses to India's endangered tiger population, raising urgent questions about the implementation and enforcement of mitigation measures in crucial wildlife corridors and buffer zones.
