In a significant move to prevent wildlife tragedies, the Chakradharpur (CKP) railway division of South Eastern Railway has announced the cancellation of eight train services. This decision, effective from December 22 to 24, comes as a direct response to the increased and frequent movement of elephant herds across key railway sections in the region.
Third Time in Quick Succession
This marks the third instance in rapid succession that the CKP division has been forced to cancel train services due to elephant activity. The decision follows closely on the heels of a tragic incident in Assam, where a speeding train struck and killed seven elephants, highlighting the critical need for such precautionary measures.
The railway authorities have attributed the cancellations specifically to the frequent movement of jumbos on three crucial sections under their jurisdiction: Rourkela-Chakradharpur, Rourkela-Jharsuguda, and Rourkela-Nuagaon. The persistent presence of elephants on these tracks poses a severe risk to both animal lives and railway safety.
List of Cancelled Train Services
To mitigate the risk, officials have cancelled a total of eight trains, comprising seven MEMU services and one passenger train operating on up and down routes. The affected services are:
- Tata-Barbil-Tata MEMU (68125/68126)
- Tata-Gua-Tata MEMU (68019/68020)
- Chakradharpur-Rourkela-Chakradharpur MEMU (68025/68026)
- Tata-Rourkela-Tata MEMU (68043/68044)
- Hatia-Jharsuguda-Hatia MEMU (18175/18176)
- Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Rourkela MEMU (68029/68030)
- Chakradharpur-Tata-Kharagpur-Chakradharpur MEMU (68010/68009/68066)
- Birmitrapur-Barsuan-Birmitrapur passenger (58151/58152)
A Pattern of Precautionary Measures
This recent spate of cancellations is not an isolated event. The divisional railway had previously cancelled five passenger trains on December 18 and 19. This was followed by the cancellation of four more trains on December 20 and 21 on the same vulnerable routes. The repeated actions underscore the ongoing and serious challenge of human-wildlife conflict on railway networks in forested areas.
The proactive stance by the South Eastern Railway reflects a growing awareness and urgency to protect India's elephant population from train-related accidents. While causing temporary inconvenience to passengers, these measures are crucial for the long-term conservation of wildlife and ensuring the safety of railway operations in ecologically sensitive zones like the Kolhan region.
