Jamshedpur, Feb 4: In a shocking incident two elephants were killed after being hit by a speeding goods train ( Millenium parcel train) at Bisra near Manoharpur in West Singhbhum district, about 190 Km from here in the small hours of Thursday. The elephants were an adult ( 15 year) and an elephant calf ( 5 years).
According to railway sources, the incident took place past 1 am, when the two wild elephants were trying to cross the railway tracks between Bhalulata – Jeraikela railway section.
The train was running at a speed of around 100 Kmph, when it hit the two tuskers. The spot of mishap was close to Odisha’s Sundargarh district.
Sources informed that soon after the mishap, a team from the forest department rushed to the spot. They started protesting against the mishap and blamed the railway authorities for negligence. Sensing trouble, RPF jawans took the forest department team hostage for three hours. They were released only after promise of probe.
“It is a tragic incident which took place at around 1.10 am. An investigation has been initiated in this regard by Chakradharpur division, ” said Sanjay Ghosh, chief public relations officer of South Eastern Railway. The senior railway official went on to say that no speed restrictions were imposed by the forest department in that section.
“It is an unfortunate incident. It happened around 1 am on Thursday when a herd of wild elephants was crossing the tracks. Though it’s difficult to explain the exact cause, I think it was due to change of direction by elephants. Railway and forest officials are on the spot and restoration of rail traffic on the route has been done,” said Nishant Kumar, Assistant Railway Manager, Bondamunda.
He said that an investigation into the unfortunate incident would be conducted.
Tankadhar Behera, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Rourkela division, said that the train speed at the time of the accident would be looked into.
According to him, all the four- wheels of the front trolley of the parcel van (next to engine) got derailed after the mishap.
Restoration work at the spot of mishap got completed at around 9 am after which train services in that railway section resumed.
“It was really shocking to read about the death of elephants on railway tracks. Trains continue to kill elephants despite the government claiming to pay active attention to the problem for at least the past five years. In consultation with the Environment and Forest Ministry and the forest departments of state governments,Railways must attempt to find a more lasting solution in the matter through deposit works consisting of measures such as construction of ramps and underpasses,” said a local.
