Anupma Khanna/Dehradun
Following the recent opening of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway which has cut down the travel time between the two cities to 2.5 hours, a disturbing reality is unfolding: a trail of crushed animal bodies every few kilometres.
Unsettling videos of animal carcasses on the new expressway are circulating widely on social media, shared by commuters and animal lovers alike. Many expressed anguish at the scenes being reported from stretches of the expressway in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Dehradun resident merchant navy officer Aman Katwal said, “We were excited to try the new highway, but it turned traumatic. We saw a dead dog every few minutes. I had to navigate around carcasses. After seeing the bodies, I became extra cautious. I saw a dog enter through a gap in the barrier and slowed to 60 kmph to avoid hitting it. But not everyone will,” he added.
Cab driver Ashok Yadav who frequently plies between Doon and Delhi, says the danger escalates after dark.
“It’s not just dogs. At night, even bigger animals like nilgai are coming onto the expressway. Between Shamli, Baraut and Baghpat, about an 80–90-kilometre stretch, animal crossings are frequent, especially when visibility is low,” he said.
Cab driver Wahid, who has been plying the expressway for the past two weeks, said the biggest risk is the absence of continuous mesh fencing. “For an expressway cutting through villages and forest areas, fencing is non-negotiable. Nights are especially dangerous as animals run towards headlights. Since I drive on this expressway almost daily, I know animals can appear at any moment—that’s why I was cautious,” he said.
Veterinary doctor Mithila Jatin Singhal said, “At least 80 per cent of road accident injuries in animals are fatal. Even when they survive the initial impact, the lack of timely medical care leads to prolonged suffering and death. It is risky not just for animals- at high speeds, collisions with animals can result in severe trauma or fatalities for commuters. Even attempts to avoid an animal, like sudden braking or swerving, can lead to major accidents. This is also a road safety concern for humans,” she said.
Uttarakhand’s former principal chief conservator of forests, Jai Raj called the situation deeply concerning. Experts must identify vulnerable stretches and ensure fencing at the earliest- NHAI has a key role here. I have also asked the Uttarakhand forest department to begin collecting data on these incidents,” he said.
This correspondent attempted to seek the opinion of NHAI officials on the issue but was unable to get it.
