PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Lalkuan
A male elephant was injured after being hit by a train on the Lalkuan-Kashipur stretch late on Friday night. The mishap occurred near the Gularbhoj area.
According to officials, the MCQ train returning from Kashipur to Lalkuan hit an elephant crossing the tracks in the Gularbhoj area at about 8:30 PM. The elephant landed on muddy terrain besides the track after the collision. The locomotive pilot informed the Kashipur railway station and Forest department about the accident.
The Forest department team soon reached the site of the mishap and started efforts to rescue the pachyderm, which lasted till Saturday morning. Forest officials said that the elephant has sustained serious injuries and is being treated for the same. The department has deployed a team of veterinarians to treat the injured jumbo. Terai central divisional forest officer Umesh Tiwari and others were present during the rescue operation. Tiwari said that considering the apparent negligence of the railway staff, a case has been registered by the Forest department against the locomotive pilot. Official communication will also be sent to them Railways to ensure that the speed of trains is controlled in areas frequented by elephants. Meanwhile, the injured elephant was being treated in the jungle, the DFO added.
