Nuapada: Forest officials of Nuapada range have seized the bodies of a mother bear and two cubs from the railway track near Hanspuri village in the district on Thursday morning.

It is being suspected that a train had hit the three animals on Wednesday night leading to their death.

The incident has raised a question mark about the attitude of the railways in addressing the issue of the safety of wild animals along the tracks.

After post-mortem at the district veterinary hospital here, the bodies were disposed of on the premise of the Nuapada range office.

Sources said that a resident of Hanspuri village found the mutilated bodies of the three bears near the railway track in the early hours on Thursday and informed forest officials.

Nuapada forest range officer Basuseb Adbang, forest officer Muktidata Joshi and other staff rushed to the spot and seized the bodies.

The forest officials pointed at negligence on the part of the railways for the death of the three bears. Local residents also held the railways responsible for the deaths.

Raghu Nial, a Nuapada resident, said: "The attitude of the railways towards the safety of the wild animals along the tracks is deplorable. The railway authority should take steps to make sure that animals are not hit by trains."

Nuapada range officer Basudeb Adbang also blamed the railways for the incident.

"The incident has occurred due to lack of patrolling along the track and failure in monitoring the movement of animals. We will write to the railways. The forest department has begun an inquiry to the death of the three bears. We will take further steps after the inquiry," Adbang said.

Justice cry

A rape survivor of Malkangiri district has pleaded for justice. The woman said she was yet to get justice even though more than two months passed since the incident took place. Though the main culprit, a teacher, has been arrested, action is yet to be taken against three other accused, the woman alleged.