Mohali: A suspected hit-and-run left a full-grown female nilgai dead on Mullanpur road in the early hours of Wednesday. But when forest and wildlife officials arrived, the animal carcass was gone. All that remained were bloodstains on the road.The mysterious disappearance of the carcass has left wildlife officials searching for answers, with suspicions that it may have been taken away for illegal meat or skin. Officials, however, stressed that this remains only a possibility and the circumstances surrounding its disappearance are yet to be established.A forest and wildlife official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department received information about an animal lying dead on the main road at Mullanpur, but its team found no carcass on reaching the spot.“Only dried bloodstains were found,” the official said.Officials subsequently made enquiries and tried to examine CCTV footage from toll plazas, nearby dhabas and other establishments, besides contacting the municipal council and police, but no clue emerged about who removed the carcass or where it was taken.The department now plans to approach the police for registration of an FIR to determine how the nilgai was killed, identify the vehicle suspected to have hit it and trace the missing carcass.The incident has also raised questions over the handling of wildlife remains on busy roads, particularly when forest officials are informed after an animal is found dead. The department is expected to seek CCTV footage from the surrounding area and other evidence to trace the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run as well as the missing carcass.Night rides a risky affairThe accident involving a nilgai has highlighted the risks faced by motorists at night in New Chandigarh. Stray cattle, poor lighting and animals on the road remain a regular concern in the area. Several stretches remain poorly lit due to faulty or non-functional streetlights, making it difficult for motorists to spot animals sitting or moving on the road.The problem could worsen during winter, when fog further reduces visibility. The road also carries long-distance traffic towards Himacha Pradesh and Punjab. There is hardly any police presence on the roads at night, making it difficult for motorists to get help in case of an emergency.
