Three lion cubs were run over by a speeding goods train near Pipavav port area in Amreli district tonight, police said.
"As many as three lion cubs were killed today after a goods train running between Pipavav port to Surendranagar district ran over them near Rampara village near Pipavav port in Amreli district," Pipavav Marine Police Station Officer Bharat Gohil said.
The incident occurred when a lioness along with her three cubs was walking along the railway track while returning from a water body at Ucchaiya village near Rampura village, Gohil said.
The spot lies five kilometers from the Pipavav port, which operates a private railway line that passes through the Gir forest area, the last abode of the Asiatic lions.
"The cubs, who were walking on the tracks, failed to come off the railway line and were run over by the train," he said.
Following the incident, a team of forest officers from Rajula taluka of Amreli district reached the spot and recovered the carcasses, he said.
Range Forest Officer in Rajula taluka C B Dhandhiya said the incident occurred despite best attempts to stop such mishaps in the area.
"Generally, we run a pilot van on the railway line in the area before any train comes. However, despite that the tragic incident took place today," Dhandhiya said.
This is the second incident where lion cubs were run over by a goods train this year, he said, adding, "A few months ago, two lion cubs had died in a similar way and after today's incident, the number has gone upto five in this year," he said.
In separate incidents last year, around five lions had died when they were hit by trains.
In the last census conducted in 2010 in the Gir forest and surrounding areas, the number of lions stood at 411.
