Another Gaur Killed on Ballarshah-Gondia Railway Track
The accident occurred in Compartment No 474 under Junona range when train number 68816, travelling from Gondia to Ballarshah, collided with the animal.
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According to wildlife activists of Habitat Conservation Society, who visited the spot, the impact was so intense that the train dragged the gaur for nearly 120 metres, dismembering the body and scattering flesh and horns across the tracks. The train was reportedly briefly halted before it resumed its journey towards Chandrapur after remains of the Gaur were cleared of the track.
This is the second such incident in recent months.
A similar accident had occurred in February in Compartment No. 413, raising serious concerns over the safety of wildlife in the area. A few days back a pregnant Sambar was killed in similar collision with the speeding train on the same railway track.
The Ballarshah-Gondia railway line passes through areas adjoining the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and is a critical wildlife corridor connecting Kanhargaon Sanctuary, Kawal Sanctuary, and Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary to Tadoba.
Conservationists note that the track connects ahead to the Balaghat-Nainpur section in Madhya Pradesh, where effective mitigation structures like underpasses and overpasses have been installed, however this track through Maharashtra lacks effective mitigation measures.
Experts and environmental groups are urging the railway authorities in Maharashtra to adopt similar measures to prevent further loss of wildlife.
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While recommendations have been made to restrict train speeds to 50–60 kmph between 7 pm and 7 am in forested stretches, its implementation remains inconsistent.
"Concrete action is the need of the hour. Mere proposals or committee discussions won't help unless they lead to on-ground changes," said president of Habitat Conservation Society, Dinesh Khate,
Khate along with Kiran Bavaskar and Amit Deshmukh, visited the site and informed Junona Forest Range officials. Forest guard Gajanan Lute and other forest workers later visited the spot to complete the formalities.
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