AGRA: Hours after a stone was hurled at Vande Bharat Express breaking its windowpane in Hiarangaon area of Firozabad district while it was heading to Varanasi, the train suffered delay as a stray animal was runover in its return journey to Delhi on the same day.On Wednesday at around 8pm, a stray animal came under train wheels between Bharthana and Ekdil stations of Etawah district. According to railway officials, the train was delayed for over half an hour. The train was cleared for Delhi by 8:45pm.Chief public relation officer of North Central Railway zone, Gaurav Krishan Bansal said, “Cattle menace on Delhi-Varanasi route is a social problem, as residents living near the railway track - including villagers and herdsmen - leave their animal around track to graze grass.”A brief study conducted by railway few years back revealed that sections like Aligarh, Firozabad and Kanpur, where cattle barns are located close to railway tracks often pose danger to train operations.“Railway is the worst sufferer of cattle runover, as our train operation and its punctuality get severely affected. The local administration and state government need to look into the matter, as our jurisdiction is on track only,” he said.When questioned why no fencing has been done along the track to avoid such menace by railway, the CPRO said, “Fencing 760 km between Delhi-Varanasi and further to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (Mughalsarai) station is not an easy task. He needs time as both side of the track needs to be covered. The project is under pipeline. But meanwhile, we used weed killer to destroy grass near track and have increased patrolling at those particular sections where cattle runover cases are maximum.”It’s important to note that earlier on February 5 at least a dozen cattleheads were run over by freight train on the Delhi-Kanpur route near Chhichhamai village between Makhanpur and Shikohabad railway stations in Firozabad district. In the accident, two wagons of the goods train were also derailed.Railway sources claimed that almost every month, at least one cow or bull is killed on the tracks.On the night of December 25, 2018, the New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani was halted for a couple of hours after a bull was run over by a train near Barahan railway station on the Delhi-Kanpur route.On March 30, 2018, the New Delhi-bound Dibrugarh Town Rajdhani Express was halted for over half an hour after a cow was run over. The accident occurred near Asfabad railway crossing in Rasoolpur area, nearly 3km from Firozabad railway station.In February 2017, 18 cattleheads were run over by the Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express between Shikohabad and Kaurara in Firozabad, after which the train was brought to a halt.

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