A leopard was seen walking along the rails inside the Bhanwartank Tunnel on the Bilaspur–Katni railway section on Thursday, forcing the crew of a following train to slow down until the animal cleared the corridor, officials reported.
How the encounter unfolded
Video recorded from the locomotive, which has since circulated widely on social media, shows the big cat moving calmly between the tracks while the train followed at a reduced pace. The sighting occurred in the Khongsara–Bhanwartank stretch — a densely forested, hilly tract where wildlife movement is frequent.
The train crew noticed the animal ahead and immediately moderated the train’s speed to avoid a collision. The leopard walked through the tunnel for some distance and eventually left the railway corridor, disappearing into the surrounding forest, according to the report.
Immediate response and safety measures
Following the sighting, forest department personnel increased patrolling and monitoring along the affected section to track movement and to verify whether the animal remained close to the tracks. Railway staff who carry out inspections and maintenance on foot across this forested stretch were also highlighted as being at potential risk by the incident.
The episode underlined two intersecting concerns: ensuring the safety of wildlife and protecting railway staff and passengers who traverse or work in areas where animals commonly cross tracks.
- Location: Bhanwartank Tunnel, Khongsara–Bhanwartank section on Bilaspur–Katni railway line.
- Action by train crew: Reduced speed until the animal left the track.
- Follow-up: Increased forest department patrols and monitoring in the area.
Wider context
The Bilaspur–Katni corridor passes through several forested pockets in central India where encounters with leopards, elephants and other wildlife have been recorded previously. Railway–wildlife interactions can lead to tragic outcomes for animals and cause danger to people when collisions occur or when staff are conducting routine track work in these stretches.
Railway authorities and forest departments in various parts of the country have piloted measures such as speed restrictions in known wildlife zones, fencing in selected locations, installation of wildlife warning signage and increased night patrolling by both railway and forest staff. The present report said only that patrols were intensified after the Bhanwartank sighting; no new mitigations were announced.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sighting | Leopard walking on tracks inside Bhanwartank Tunnel |
| Train action | Locomotive reduced speed; followed at low speed until animal cleared corridor |
| Follow-up | Forest officials increased patrols and monitoring |
Practical implications for railway operations and conservation
The incident underscores the need for routine vigilance by locomotive crews operating through forested sections. It also points to the value of coordinated action between the railways and forest authorities to reduce the likelihood of collisions and to safeguard personnel who inspect tracks on foot.
Authorities often rely on a combination of real-time vigilance by train crews, scheduled speed restrictions through known wildlife corridors and targeted patrolling to manage risk. The Bhanwartank sighting is a reminder that these measures require continued enforcement and periodic review to adapt to changing animal movement patterns.
Residents and regular travellers in areas where railway lines pass close to forests are advised to report any sightings of large animals near tracks to local forest or railway control rooms so officials can respond quickly and, if necessary, implement temporary traffic measures.
No injuries to people or animals were reported in this incident, and the leopard moved back into the forested area after being observed on the track. Forest and railway officials are continuing monitoring operations in the sector.
