Tragic Elephant Deaths on Railway Tracks
In a heartbreaking wildlife incident, two male elephants lost their lives after being struck by a goods train in the early hours of Sunday morning. The tragic collision occurred in Jalpaiguri's Dhupguri region, specifically between Salbari and Kolaigram railway stations around 4am.
The area where this incident took place has no previous record of elephant movement, making this occurrence particularly unusual and tragic. Railway officials confirmed the location was on the main track connecting New Jalpaiguri to New Alipurduar via Jalpaiguri and Falakata.
Long Journey of the Elephant Herd
The story of these elephants began two days earlier on Friday when a herd of five elephants, including one calf, wandered out of their natural habitat in Gorumara National Park. The group embarked on an unexpected journey, traveling approximately 70 kilometers along the banks of the Jaldhaka river.
Their path took them to Uchulpukri village in Cooch Behar's Mekhliganj area, where they eventually found temporary shelter in a small forested tract near Jamaldaha village. Forest department officials had been monitoring the herd's movements and were waiting for the animals to naturally return to their original habitat.
The Fateful Night and Aftermath
On Saturday night, the elephants began their anticipated return journey toward Gorumara National Park. However, the herd lost their way during the night and accidentally wandered into the Dhupguri region, bringing them dangerously close to railway tracks.
According to forest department officials, three 'maljuria' elephants - a term used for elephants that prefer to explore new habitats rather than stay with the main herd - had ventured onto the railway tracks when the tragic collision occurred.
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, explained that there were no speed restrictions in place on this particular section of track since it passes through an area with no nearby forest tracts where elephants typically roam.
Forest department teams are now actively working to guide the remaining elephants to safety. One elephant has already reached Sonakhali forest, while the other two are moving toward Diana forest, according to latest reports.
