4 Elephants mowed down by AlleppeyBokaro express in Jharsuguda in Odisha

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Indian Railways is continuing with its elephant killing spree. At least four elephants have bee killed by the Alleppey Bokaro express train when the elephants were crossing the track and the train mowed them down. This incident happened in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district near the Bagdihi Railway station. This falls under the South Eastern Railways.

Local people first saw that there were two adult elephants and two calves lying down near the railway tracks. Later the forest officials on being informed by the local people reached the area and removed the dead elephants from the railway tracks.

It is not know if there are more dead elephants nearby. It is speculated that some injured elephants may have died nearby after being hit.

Indian railways have been repeatedly told to reduce the speed of trains near elephant corridors but they violate it. Any private vehicle hitting and killing a protected species will immediately be impounded. However, railways is over all laws. Sadly!

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Four forest officials have been suspended. The DFO of Jharsuguda Sushant Kumar has suspended one forester Basant Pradhan and three forest guards - Sunil Bhue, Biswanath Pradha and Rohit Majhi for the incident of four elephants getting mowed down at the Teladihi level crossing. The DFO has written a strong letter to the local Jharsuguda station officer asking for strict action against railway employees including the train drivers. However, that seems remote as train drivers and railway officers are generally never punished for elephant deaths.

With the increase in mining activities, the frequency of trains have also increased. The forest officials need to do foot patrolling more enough to understand the routes elephants take as well as to keep tab on day to day elephant movements. This will help in preventing poaching as well as saving the elephants from trains.