Speeding train knocks down two elephants near Guwahati

Guwahati Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Pradipta Barua, quoting local sources said a herd of 15 elephants were crossing the railway track from south to north when the last two were hit. (Express Photo/Representational)

A speeding train late Saturday night knocked down two wild elephants at Thakurkuchi, about 19 km east of Guwahati, with officials saying both elephants died almost instantaneously on the spot. “A herd of wild elephants was crossing the railway track about 200 metres west of Thakurkuchi railway station when the last two were hit by the engine of the Delhi-bound 15909 Avadh-Assam Express. The elephants died almost instantaneously,” Pradipta Barua, Guwahati Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) told The Indian Express. The incident occurred at around 12:08 AM, he added.

Barua, quoting local sources said a herd of 15 elephants were crossing the railway track from south to north when the last two were hit. The herd, which also had four calves, had strayed out from the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary situated on the eastern fringe of Guwahati city.

“There are five marked elephant corridors that cross the railway track between Narangi and Panbari stations east of Guwahati where we have regular joint patrolling with the railways to keep an eye on elephants. The track where the incident took place on Saturday night however does not have a history of elephant crossing,” DFO Barua said.

The 78.64 sq km Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, which was in the news recently when the government had launched an eviction drive only to be called off after the first day, had recorded the existence of 50 elephants when the last census was carried out a few months ago. Elephants that live in small herds of 10 to 15, often stray out, particularly to the Narangi Army Cantonment in search of food.