MARGAO: At a time when people of Goa are agitating against the double tracking of railway line to protect the wildlife too, an adult leopard was killed on Thursday after being hit by a train in the forest area of Padi-Quepem on Thursday.
An adult leopard aged between four and five years was lying dead on the railway track, close to the Forest Range Office at Padi at around 7.30 am.
Devidas Velip, Range Forest Officer said the leopard died after being hit by a train.
On receiving information about the incident, several environmentalists said this is one of the reasons people are fighting against the double tracking of railway line through the wildlife areas.
It is pertinent to note that environmentalists and social activists are fighting against the double tracking in Goa stating it will cause damage to the environment, including the wildlife. The South Western Railway (SWR) has already commissioned the doubling of the 15.2-km railway line between Sanvordem-Chandor-Margao in South Goa. The doubling of the railway line is among the three linear projects in Goa opposed by environmentalists in the State.
“We got the message at around 7.30 am on Thursday about the leopard lying dead on the railway track, and hence rushed to the site immediately,” said RFO Velip.
He said the adult leopard was aged between four and five years.
