Patna (Bihar): The forest department has filed a case against unidentified railway officials after tree felling at Naugachia station in Bhagalpur killed several bird chicks. The case was lodged under the Wildlife Protection Act to hold authorities accountable for negligence.
Tree Felling Destroys Nests
A large pakad tree near platform 1 sheltered birds including Little Cormorants and Little Egrets. On Friday, railway staff cut branches, citing inconvenience at the station.
The felling caused multiple nests to collapse. Forester Soni Gupta reported eight chicks dead and 12 injured. Forest staff rescued the surviving birds while initiating legal action.
Legal Action and Accountability
Divisional Forest Officer, Bhagalpur, Sweta Kumari, confirmed filing a case against unknown railway officials. She said, “Trimming the branches was not wrong, but there were chicks in the nests. Nobody informed us before cutting.”
Senior Divisional Engineer, Sonepur, Kumar Indresh, denied ordering the trimming. He added an inquiry is underway to identify who issued the instructions.
Forest officials condemned the incident as a “horrible crime,” warning of the broader environmental impact. They stressed that indiscriminate tree cutting harms wildlife and contributes to global climate challenges.
