Wildlife at Risk: Railway Accidents in Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, 22 wild animals have been killed by trains since 2015, mainly due to high speed and lack of underpasses according to an RTI. Despite meetings between railway and forest officials to improve safety measures, discrepancies persist. Efforts continue to address this urgent wildlife conservation issue.

Since 2015, at least 22 wild animals have been tragically killed by trains on the West Central Railway in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly due to excessive train speed and inadequate underpasses. This alarming information was revealed through an RTI query.

The victims included 14 leopards, four tigers, three cubs, and a bear, all reportedly killed while traversing rail tracks within Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. Despite forest department concerns raised at a recent meeting with railway officials, fundamental safety measures remain in question.

Highlighted improvements include the need for construction of more animal passes, speed restrictions, and better track visibility measures to minimize such incidents. While the railway has promised improvements, including underpasses by 2025, effective implementation remains a pressing concern for wildlife conservationists.

(With inputs from agencies.)