Mail News Service
Kharagpur, July 18: The Kharagpur Railway Division has expressed deep regret over the tragic death of three elephants, including two calves, after they were struck by the Down Jan Shatabdi Express (Train No. 12022) between Banstala and Sardiha stations in the early hours of July 18. The incident has triggered a wave of concern over wildlife safety along railway routes.
In an official statement issued late Friday evening, the Railways conveyed its condolences over the loss of wildlife but rejected allegations made by the Forest Department that it had been alerted in advance about elephant movement in the area.
Railway authorities clarified that no formal communication—neither written nor telephonic—was made by forest officials to the concerned railway personnel prior to the incident. The only intimation was a message posted in a common WhatsApp group at 10:56 pm, just hours before the collision. The Railways emphasized that such informal messages could not substitute official communication channels, particularly for matters of critical urgency.
“If the matter was truly serious, the Forest Department should have followed up with a call or official memo,” the Railways noted, adding that relying solely on a WhatsApp message, especially late at night, was inadequate.
To support its claim, the Railways cited several previous instances where written memos from the Forest Department led to the successful imposition of speed restrictions. The latest such memo was received on July 6, 2025, from the Forest Range Officer of Manikpada, following which appropriate action was taken. Similar protocols were followed earlier this year in January, February, April, and May.
In response to the current incident, Railway officials have proposed a joint inspection with forest authorities. While originally scheduled for July 18, it will now take place on July 19, and an investigation was already underway.
The incident not only resulted in the death of three elephants but also caused more than five hours of disruption on the busy Howrah-Mumbai main line. The Railways reiterated its commitment to protecting biodiversity and stated that it was working closely with the Forest Department to strengthen coordination and improve wildlife safety protocols, including a review of existing measures.
“We reaffirm our commitment to wildlife protection and will continue our efforts to enhance preventive mechanisms through sustained and coordinated action,” the statement concluded.
JSM demands probe into elephant deaths in Jhargram train accident
Jhargram, July 18: The tragic death of three wild elephants including two calves and an adult, after being struck by a speeding train near Banstola railway station in Jhargram has sparked public outrage and drawn sharp criticism from local groups. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. and had been condemned as a result of administrative negligence rather than a mere accident.
In response, the Jangalmahal Swaraj Morcha (JSM) has submitted a memorandum to the Union Forest Minister through Jhargram Deputy Commissioner Sunil Agarwal, demanding the formation of a high-level inquiry committee and immediate action against those responsible.
Ashok Mahato, Central President of Jangalmahal Swaraj Morcha, said, “These deaths are not accidents, they are a direct result of gross negligence by both the Railways and the Forest Department. The elephant corridor in Jangalmahal was identified long ago, yet the railway tracks passing through it lack basic safety measures.”
The organization outlined seven key demands to prevent such incidents in the future. The demands included formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident thoroughly, declaration of the railway stretch, including bamboo thickets, as an official elephant corridor with nighttime speed restrictions, installation of technical surveillance systems, such as thermal cameras and motion sensors, deployment of forest personnel near railway lines to alert train drivers of elephant presence, compensation for ecological damage and creation of a special environmental protection fund, training and involvement of local communities in conservation efforts and formation of a joint Elephant Conservation Task Force between Central and State Governments.
Jangalmahal Swaraj Morcha emphasized that the deaths of these elephants highlighted long-standing administrative failures and a lack of coordination between key departments. The group appealed to environmentalists, nature lovers, and concerned citizens to unite in the cause of wildlife protection and ensure that such incidents were never repeated.
“This is a wake-up call. If strong action is not taken now, we will continue to witness the loss of precious wildlife due to human negligence,” Mahato warned.
