In a commendable display of alertness, two locomotive drivers of a goods train in Keonjhar, Odisha, managed to avoid hitting a large tusker on Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 8:21 am when the elephant was crossing the Sitabinjh-Basantapur railway line under the Keonjhar forest division. The goods train was en route from Jakhapura to Keonjhar at the time.
Quick Action Prevents Tragedy
Upon spotting the tusker crossing the track on the Down line between kilometer number 80/18-16, drivers Depak Kumar Barik and Satyaranjan Sahu immediately sounded the horn and applied emergency brakes to stop the train. They waited patiently until the elephant safely crossed the railway track and entered the forest area on the other side.
"We are always cautious while crossing forest areas, but today was a unique experience when we saw a tusker suddenly crossing the line. From a distance, we stopped the train and waited for it to safely cross into the forest," said the loco pilots.
Recognition and Appreciation
Later, the train drivers reported the incident in writing at Basantapur station in the Khordha railway division. Local residents praised the drivers for their alertness, which averted a potential accident. "Both loco pilots should be rewarded for their actions, as it raises interest in wildlife protection among railway workers," opined a resident.
Ongoing Efforts to Protect Elephants
The forest department has identified elephant movement paths along the long stretch of train tracks passing through forested areas in Keonjhar district and installed caution boards. Locomotive pilots have been warned to take precautions, such as slowing down and blowing horns, to avoid accidents. Despite these measures, several accidents have occurred in the past, causing injury and death to elephants. Key sections of the Tamaka-Banspani railway line, including Nayagada-Jurudi, Sitabinjh-Basantpur, Basantpur-Ramchandrapur, and Harichandanpur-Tangiriapal, are identified as elephant movement areas.
