Three elephants mowed down by speeding Mumbai-bound Jnaneswari Express near Chakulia

Several trains cancelled on Tatanagar-Howrah route

Jamshedpur: In a tragic mishap , three elephants ( all adults including a female) were killed when the Howrah-Mumbai Jnaneswari Super Deluxe Express hit them between Gidhni and Chakulia under Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway (SER), about 90 Kms away from Jamshedpur, in the wee hours of Tuesday.

According to information, the accident took place when the train was crossing Kanimohali passenger halt at around 1.30 am. The engine of the Mumbai-bound train which was moving at a speed of 110 Kmph was partially damaged. However, none of the passengers were injured.

All the three elephants which were moving close to the tracks collapsed on the Up line after being hit by the train. As the elephants were hit the train stopped at a little distance away.

Chief public relations officer of South Eastern Railway ( SER) Sanjay Ghosh informed that the overhead equipment snapped when the train hit the elephants. The mishap’s impact suspended movement on the Up line till about 9.45am, over eight hours from the mishap. However, movement of trains remained unaffected on the Down line.

As the news spread, forest department officials from Jhargram forest range and railway officials of Kharagpur division rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. Heavy earth movers (JCB) were pressed into service to clear the tracks. The engine of the train which was partially damaged was replaced with a diesel engine.

The mishap affected movement of trains between Howrah and Tatanagar. Three local trains – Kharagpur-Dhanbad Passenger Kharagpur-Jhargram Passenger, and Jhargram-Midnapore Passenger had to be cancelled.

The Howrah-Barbil Janshatabdi Express was delayed by over one hour when it reached Tatanagar railway station today. The schedule arrival of the train at Tatanagar is 9.40 am but because of the mishap it came here at 11 am. The Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express was also delayed. The schedule arrival of the train at Tatanagar is 10.40 am whereas it came at 11.25 am today. Movement of several other long distance trains including Howrah-Ahmedabad Express was also affected.

�It was really shocking to read about death of elephants on railway track. 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 passenger.

On April 16 2018 too, four elephants including a calf were killed after being hit by the Howrah-Mumbai Mail in the Bagedihi forest range under Jharsuguda district of Odisha.
The mishap took place when the herd comprising two adult female elephants, a tusker and a calf were crossing the railway line at around 3.45 am, when the Mumbai-bound train hit them, killing all the four elephants on the spot.