Prompt action saves jumbos from accident

GUWAHATI: Prompt action by railway and forest staff averted a mishap when a herd of 73 elephants came close to the railway tracks between Jugijan and Hojai stations under the Lumding division on Tuesday night.

The Dibrugarh-Amritsar Express was crossing the point at 7.40pm. "Railway and forest staff on duty immediately informed and signalled the loco pilot to stop the train. As a result, the train could be controlled and the entire herd of 73 elephants was allowed to cross the railway track. After that, the train resumed its journey. Thus, an imminent collision was avoided due to timely action and close coordination among forest and railway officials," Northeast Fronter Railway chief public relations officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.

Sharma added that the same herd crossed the railway track again at 5.17am on Wednesday.
Two elephants were mowed down by a train on the outskirts of the city last month. NFR said railway authorities have been issuing temporary speed restrictions and caution orders as and when intimation on elephant movement is received from on-duty railway or forest officials, while permanent speed restrictions are imposed on notified elephant corridors.

It added that over 12 imminent elephant-train collisions were averted last winter.
Last year, at least seven elephants died due to collision with trains. Most of the jumbo casualties were outside the identified vulnerable locations where elephants normally cross the railway tracks.

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