The 717 National Highway cuts straight through the heart of the Lataguri forest. Deer and leopards often stray onto the road and fatal collisions with speeding vehicles have become frequent. Growing concern over back-to-back incidents has now prompted authorities to act.
Forest workers to monitor Lataguri national highway
On Tuesday night, the Forest Department began continuous surveillance along the stretch. From morning to evening, forest staff from the Lataguri Range are patrolling in vehicles, and night-time monitoring is also underway. Officials have stated that any vehicle found speeding will face legal action.
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Two consecutive accidents on Sunday and Monday, resulted in the deaths of two deer and a leopard. The incidents sparked renewed demand for stricter monitoring of vehicular movement through the forest. Unregulated traffic has long posed a threat to wildlife, causing multiple fatalities in the past. But the deaths of the deer and leopard intensified the demand for immediate intervention, prompting quick action from the Forest Department.
On Tuesday night, Lataguri Range forest guards began all-night patrolling. Sanjoy Dutta, the Range Officer of Lataguri, said, “Forest workers are patrolling in vehicles from morning till evening. Night surveillance has also begun. If any vehicle is found speeding, legal action will be taken.”
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Meanwhile, a luxury resort near Danga Para, adjacent to the Lataguri forest, has been accused of violating rules by playing loud music. The Forest Department seized the resort's sound systems on Tuesday night. Authorities have warned that if such violations occur again, strict legal action will follow. Divyendu Dev, secretary of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association, said, “All resorts have been cautioned. If any violation happens, the Forest Department will take action as per law.”
