Tripura's Forest Department Raises Alarm After Wild Elephant Injured by Fast Train
Click to start listening
Agartala, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Tripura Forest Department has formally expressed concerns to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) following a grave incident where a wild elephant was injured by a fast-moving train in the Khowai district of the state, officials reported on Monday.
A senior forest representative stated that a complaint was submitted to the NFR's Divisional Manager based in Lumding.
According to the official, a 35-year-old wild elephant sustained severe injuries after being struck by a speeding train in the Shalbagan region under the Teliamura Forest Division on Saturday.
Thanks to the initiative of forest officials, medical professionals from the state veterinary hospital have been administering care to the injured elephant since Sunday.
The forest officials revealed that a local train traveling from Agartala to Dharmangar in northern Tripura collided with the elephant on Saturday night as it was traversing the railway tracks.
Both of the elephant’s hind legs were fractured, rendering it unable to crawl due to the extensive injuries. The train, which should have operated at a regulated speed of 20 km per hour in these designated elephant corridors, was reportedly traveling at 50 km per hour, resulting in the collision with the wild elephant.
An NFR official confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Forest officials noted that a similar tragedy occurred in February when an elephant was killed after being struck by a train in the same designated corridors.
The incident from Saturday night could have been prevented had the train adhered to the prescribed speed limit of 20 km per hour, the official asserted.
Wildlife experts classify elephants as Schedule-I animals under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022. Recognized as an endangered species and the National Heritage Animal of India, they warrant the utmost level of protection and respect.
Experts recommend implementing preventive measures to map these corridor routes and collaborate with pertinent stakeholders, including the Railways, the National Highways Authority of India, district administrations, and state Public Works Departments, to enhance safety protocols.
