A tragic incident occurred late Saturday night when a tusker was struck and killed by a train near Jogal Railway Station, close to Betanoti in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
The collision happened around 11:30 p.m., sparking fresh concerns about the safety of elephants and other wildlife crossing railway tracks in the region.
The Incident
According to local reports, the elephant had wandered onto the track between two railway gates located just before Jogal Railway Station. Despite attempts by villagers to guide the animal away, the closed gates trapped the tusker on the tracks.
Moments later, a speeding train approached and hit the elephant, killing it instantly. Train services were briefly halted following the collision as authorities assessed the situation.
Wildlife Safety Concerns
This incident has reignited debates about the growing number of elephant deaths near railway lines in Odisha. Conservationists and locals have called for better coordination between railway and forest departments, installation of elephant corridors, and implementation of real-time monitoring systems to prevent such tragedies.
Previous Safety Initiatives
Earlier, Indian Railways launched the ‘Kumki’ campaign in Athagarh, Odisha, to enhance elephant safety through the Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Wildlife advocates are now urging authorities to expand similar measures to other vulnerable areas like Mayurbhanj.
