Lucknow: A flock of rare 30 white-backed vultures was crushed by the speeding Durg Express in Maharajganj district on Friday morning. Forest officers don’t recollect having seen such a big flock in the last 10 years in Maharajganj.
The injured vultures are being looked after at a veterinary hospital in Laxmipur range.
The incident occurred at an unmanned level crossing (ULC), about 500 metres from Mohnapur railway crossing, in Laxmipur range of the Maharajganj forest area. A big flock of vultures had descended on the tracks, where a carcass of dog was lying.
“The railway staff should have removed it when vultures started hovering around, knowing it was a busy track,” said Wasi Iqbal Siddiqui, the forest range officer in Laxmipur. Around 11.30 am, Durg Express was passing through the area. The speeding train crushed the flock, killing 30 vultures and leaving two critically injured.
Forest officers said the driver did not slow down even when the locals present at the spot raised an alarm. “The speed should have been lowered knowing that the train was passing through an ULC,” said a forest officer. The forest officers of Maharajganj are contemplating action against the driver under the Wildlife Protection Act. “We have written to DRM, Gorakhpur,” said V P Singh, DFO, Sohagi Barwa wildlife sanctuary, Maharajganj. Neha Shukla | TNN
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