AZARA, June 21 – In a tragic incident, three wild elephants were run over by a train near Rani last night on the Kamakhya-Jogighopa route. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Jahur Ali, Range Officer of the Rani Forest Range said that a herd of about twenty wild elephants had come down from Chakradow hill last night. The elephants were searching for food by the side of the railway track near Chakradow-Mikirpara under Rani Forest Range.
According to sources in the forest department, at around 11.30 pm the DN BG BBMN Coal goods train with 41 wagons collided with some members of the herd. The impact made the train driver Jeewan Das stop the train close to the spot, following which the train crew learnt of the sad mishap. The train later stopped at the Azara railway station, situated about two kilometres further down the track.
Further investigation into the accident revealed that among the three dead elephants were two calves, and an adult female of about eighteen years in age. While one calf has been identified as male, the sex of the other could not be established due to severe mutilation.
Today, the State Minister of Environment and Forest Prodyut Bordoli, along with a team of forest department officials, visited the spot to ascertain the exact details of the accident.
Our Staff Reporter adds: The incident confirmed serious apprehensions that the particular railway route, which skirts some reserve forests, is a potential death trap for elephants which reside there. In this case, the rail route was originally planned on the north bank of the Deepor Beel – far away from its present location near forest reserves. The change to its present location has put a sizeable number of elephants in a perilous situation.
When asked for his views on the incident, the State Minister for Environment and Forest said that it is indeed an unfortunate incident, which is all the more appalling because this is not an isolated instance of elephants being killed in railway mishaps in Assam. Emphasising the need to sensitise train drivers who operate in routes close to elephant habitats, the Minister revealed that an enquiry has already been ordered.