A 10-year-old female rhinoceros was killed on Monday night by a speeding goods train, bringing the total count in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bihar’s West Champaran district to two.
The accident took place near the Madanpur range, on India’s border with Nepal. An Uttar Pradesh-bound goods train hit the animal and dragged it for 750 metres, Santosh Tiwari, field director at VTR told The Hindu .
“We have been requesting the railways to limit the speed of trains to 10 kmph at night and 20 kmph during day time. But all our requests have been in vain. Since the rhino is an endangered species, the issue gets importance. Every month we have cases of animals getting killed, be it the blue bull or python, being run over by speeding trains,” Mr. Tiwari said.
The VTR authorities registered a case under Sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 29 (destruction in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit) and 51 (penalties) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. The driver and the guard were arrested and their statements recorded, after which they were released on a bail bond. Higher Railways officials will be served notice in connection with the incident, Mr. Tiwari said.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/speeding-train-kills-female-rhino/article4527825.ece
The accident took place near the Madanpur range, on India’s border with Nepal. An Uttar Pradesh-bound goods train hit the animal and dragged it for 750 metres, Santosh Tiwari, field director at VTR told The Hindu .
“We have been requesting the railways to limit the speed of trains to 10 kmph at night and 20 kmph during day time. But all our requests have been in vain. Since the rhino is an endangered species, the issue gets importance. Every month we have cases of animals getting killed, be it the blue bull or python, being run over by speeding trains,” Mr. Tiwari said.
The VTR authorities registered a case under Sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 29 (destruction in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit) and 51 (penalties) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. The driver and the guard were arrested and their statements recorded, after which they were released on a bail bond. Higher Railways officials will be served notice in connection with the incident, Mr. Tiwari said.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/speeding-train-kills-female-rhino/article4527825.ece
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