The Puri-Surat Special train mowed down an elephant between the Hatibari and the Maneswar stations in Odisha’s Sambalpur district in the early hours of Monday.
As an elephant caution has been imposed, the train departed the Hatibari station with a speed of 50 km per hour. The last of the 15 jumbo herd was crossing the track when the train hit it.
“The elephant got entangled with the front portion of the engine and all the front wheels derailed,” said the East Coast Railway (ECoR) here. There was no casualty or injury to any passenger, it added.
Divisional Railway Manager of the Sambalpur Division Pradip Kumar, along with senior officers, reached the spot immediately. A new engine was attached to the train.
‘Caution notice issued’
“The accident occurred at a place where movement of elephants is noticed frequently. For the past several days, a herd of 15 elephants had been roaming in the area. We had issued a caution notice for slowing down the train in that section,” said Sanjit Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer of Sambalpur.
After five hours, the track was made fit again with forest clearance and the train left Hatibari at 7.24 a.m.
ECoR General Manager has ordered an inquiry. Expressing regret over accident, the ECoR said the train loco-pilots and guards were being freshly counselled.
Earlier this month, a 12-year old elephant died after being hit by an express between the Jujumura and Hatibari railway stations – not far from the present accident site.
