В Индии локомотивная бригада замедлила поезд, чтобы пропустить леопарда по путям

Raipur: Imagine looking out of a train window as it enters a dark tunnel — only to find a leopard walking calmly on the tracks ahead. That is exactly what unfolded on the Bilaspur rail route near Bhanwartank, where a loco pilot spotted the big cat inside a tunnel and immediately slowed the train. The leopard, apparently unperturbed by the train behind it, continued walking along the tracks for some distance before emerging from the tunnel and slipping back into the forest. A video of the unusual encounter, recorded from the locomotive, has since surfaced on social media. It shows the leopard strolling between the rails as the train follows at a reduced speed. According to information, the train was passing through the tunnel near Bhanwartank when the loco pilot noticed the animal ahead. Instead of continuing at normal speed, the crew immediately reduced the train’s pace, allowing the leopard enough time to move ahead safely. After walking through part of the tunnel, the animal eventually left the railway track and disappeared into the adjoining forest. The section passes through dense forests and hilly terrain, where movement of leopards, elephants and other wildlife is not unusual. Animals occasionally stray onto railway tracks, increasing the risk of collisions. The latest sighting has also raised concerns about the safety of railway employees who carry out track inspection and maintenance in the forested stretch, often on foot. For passengers, the sight may have been dramatic. For railway staff and wildlife officials, however, it was also a reminder that in forest corridors, the tracks are not used by trains alone.