Keonjhar: Two elephants reportedly died after being hit by a goods train on Jakhapura Bansapani rail track in Harichandanpur block of Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Monday night.
The accident took place near Balidanda village of Tangiriapal panchayat in the block, which falls under Brahmanipal range of Keonjhar Wildlife Division, when a herd of nine elephants were crossing the tracks near the Rebana reserve forest around 9 pm, sources said.
The freight train, heading to Tangariapal railway station from Sagadapata, dashed into the herd, killing an 18-year-old female and a sub-adult female on the spot. The Forest Department officials, including Anandpur DFO, have reached the spot and initiated an investigation amid reports that one more elephant sustained injuries in the accident.
“The bodies of the two elephants have been recovered and sent for postmortem. An investigation has been launched at the level of the divisional forest officer (DFO) to ascertain the exact cause of the accident,” said Baripada RCCF Prakash Chand Gogineni.
The incident sparked concern over safety of elephants in the region where three jumbos, including two calves, were killed after being hit by a goods train in the district last year. An elephant had also died after being hit by a train at Angul in April this year.
According to Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO), 42 elephants were killed in train hits in the state between 2010 and 2023.
