Death Tracks: 11 more vultures mowed to death.

Over the last few years, the number of wild animals dying on the railway tracks has been on a rise. According to experts, the main cause of these incidents is the vast deforestation and the lack of food resources for the wild animals.

In another glaring instance of such incidents, 11 more vultures were crushed to death by a fast moving train on the track on Friday. The incident took place at Pachantola area on Kamakhya- Jogighopa railway track near Guwahati. It may be mentioned here that on Tuesday this week, 10 vultures were mowed down on the rail tracks in the same stretch when a flock was feasting on a carcass.

 

On Friday a flock of Himalayan griffons were feeding on a cow carcass when the incident took place. Incidentally, the cow was also run over by the train the previous day, whose carcass was not removed, leading to the tragic incident. While 10 of the vultures killed on the spot, five were grievously hurt and one of them died later. The injured vultures were rushed to the veterinary dispensary in nearby Rampur, where one later died.

 

Local people flayed the railway authorities for not bothering to remove carcass lying on the track. Local wildlife lovers complained - Removal of any carcass run over by train rests with railways. For their dereliction of duty, vultures are being killed regularly on the tracks.

 

On the other hand, the fear of Leopard has strucked almost regularly at Guwahati. After an incident at Silpukhuri area at Guwahati, and there after at Baghorbori area in Punjabari, a leopard at Maligaon area of the city again brushed with wild terror. This animal mauled two persons last Friday.

 

The coming out of wild elephant from jungle and crushed down on the railway tracks also is another regular news in various parts of the state. Elaborating on the situation, wild life activist cum photographer J P Das said, “These incidents are the result of wide deforestation and lack of food for the wild animals. Not only railway department, but forest and other attached authorities should work together for the solution of such problem”.