Maharashtra: Blackbuck killed by speeding vehicle in Gondia district

Representational Pic/File/AFP

A sub-adult blackbuck died after allegedly being hit by a speeding vehicle in Maharashtra's Gondia district, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI.

According to the news agency, the accident took place near Karanja on the Gondia-Goregaon road on Wednesday night.

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After being alerted about the incident, forest officials reached the spot. However, the animal had succumbed to its injuries by then, the official said.

The carcass was brought to the forest department's 'Van Bhavan' in Gondia where it was buried after completion of post-mortem and other formalities, the official said.

On the night of August 10, a male tiger died in the district after it was hit by a speeding vehicle.

According to activist Rupesh Nimbharte, who runs an NGO dedicated to wildlife and nature conservation, more than half of Gondia's geographical area is covered with forests and the district is home to several wild animals.

He said a transit treatment centre in the district could provide timely medical care in such situations and save the lives of animals injured by vehicles.

At present, grievously injured animals are taken to Nagpur for treatment, he added.

Meanwhile, in an another incident in August this year, a sub-adult tiger died on Friday after being hit by a car in Navegaon-Nagzira corridor of Maharashtra's Gondia district, a senior forest official had earlier said, the PTI had reported.

The tiger, aged around two years, was hit by a four-wheeler while crossing the road at Murdoli forest on Kohmara-Gondia road, the official had said.

The big cat limped into the bushes, and passersby alerted the forest department, he had said.

The tiger was rescued around 7.30 am on Friday from compartment no 419 in Goregaon range of Gondia division, the official said.

The injured animal, however, died on the way to the wildlife rescue centre in Gorewada, Nagpur, he said.

The post-mortem will be carried out as per the standard operating procedure of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) at the wildlife rescue centre in Gorewada, the DCF said.

The accident has once again raised the need for having early mitigation measures. The forest department should take up the issue on priority and a safe underpass passage should be constructed as per the norms, Honourary Wildlife Warden Sawan Bahekar said.

The accident spot connecting Gondia to Kohmara on highway comes under the Navegaon-Nagzira corridor, which sees frequent movement of tigers and other wildlife.

(with PTI inputs)