A leopard in railway tunnel prompted a train crew to slow down inside the Bhanwartank Tunnel on the Bilaspur-Katni railway line in Chhattisgarh. The encounter occurred on August 25, when the animal was seen moving along the tracks ahead of the locomotive.

Indian leopard in Nagarhole National Park
Indian leopard in Nagarhole National Park, India. Illustrative photo. Photo: Srikaanth Sekar / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Video recorded from the train shows the leopard walking between the rails as the locomotive follows at reduced speed. The crew slowed the train to avoid a possible collision and give the animal time to move away safely.

Leopard Leaves the Bhanwartank Tunnel

The sighting occurred on the Khongsara-Bhanwartank rail section, which passes through forested, hilly terrain. The leopard continued through part of the tunnel, then left the railway corridor and disappeared into the nearby forest.

Wildlife movement is relatively common along this stretch. Leopards, elephants and other animals can enter or approach the railway corridor, creating a risk of collisions with trains.

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Forest Patrols and Railway Worker Safety

After the sighting, forest officials increased patrols and monitoring in the area to track wildlife movement and determine whether the leopard remained near the railway corridor.

The incident also raised concerns about the safety of railway employees who inspect and maintain the line. Staff often carry out this work on foot along the forested section, where wildlife may also be present near the tracks.

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