Telangana: Forest Department bats for underpass for safe passage of animals on NH-44

Decision follows an accident that claimed the life of a two-year-old male leopard on Thursday night at Ibrahimpur forest block

Medak: The Forest Department has decided to send a proposal to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) requesting them to build an underpass underneath NH-44 at Valluru in Narsing mandal.

District Forest Officer Joju said they wanted to ensure that animals cross the busy highway safely. They had decided to write to NHAI following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a two-year-old male leopard on Thursday night. After visiting the Ibrahimpur forest block on Friday where the incident was reported, Joju said they would place several signboards along the highway alerting road users on the movement of wild animals across the road.

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The leopard had sustained serious injuries after it was hit by an unidentified vehicle. He said it tried to attack a two-wheeler rider since it was in serious distress after the injury. However, it could not move much as its spine was damaged badly in the mishap.

“It succumbed to injuries within 15 minutes after the accident with efforts to rescue it being futile,” he said.
The DFO said they burnt the carcass after an autopsy was conducted by a local veterinary doctor following the guidelines.