Elephant Herd Disrupts Tatanagar-Odisha Train Services

Jamshedpur: Train operations across the South Eastern Railway (SER) faced significant delays today after a herd of wild elephants was spotted moving along the tracks. The disruption occurred in the forested section of the Chakradharpur Railway Division, a known wildlife corridor connecting Jharkhand and Odisha.

Precautionary Delays and Affected Routes

To ensure the safety of the herd and prevent potential collisions, railway officials immediately regulated train speeds. Several key MEMU and passenger services experienced delays as the forest department monitored the movement of the elephants.

Affected Train Services Include:

• Tatanagar–Rourkela MEMU

• Chakradharpur–Rourkela MEMU

• Hatia–Jharsuguda MEMU

• Rourkela–Jharsuguda MEMU

• Badampahar–Bangriposi Passenger

Coordination Between Railway and Forest Dept

As soon as the herd was sighted, a high-alert was issued to loco pilots and station masters. Railway personnel worked in tandem with Forest Department teams to track the herd’s progress until they cleared the tracks safely.

“Loco pilots are under strict instructions to reduce speed and maintain extreme vigilance when passing through these sensitive forest zones, especially during night hours,” stated a railway source.

A Recurring Challenge in Kolhan

The railway corridors in the Kolhan region frequently pass through dense forests, making elephant encounters a common occurrence. While these sightings prioritize wildlife conservation, they often lead to the temporary cancellation or regulation of local train services to prevent accidents.

Normal train operations have since gradually resumed, though authorities continue to urge caution for all transit through the Chakradharpur division.