Hemgiri: A 6-year-old female elephant was killed after being hit by a train near Daghora station in Julumbahal here in Sundargarh district late Friday night.
The jumbo, part of a 19-member herd, was crossing the railway track from Jhal Suguda towards Hemgiri jungle when Raigarh-bound Tata-Yashwantpur Express train from Jharsuguda hit it from the rear.
Forest officials held the ‘negligence’ of railway officials responsible for the mishap as the latter had been alerted about the presence of a herd of elephants near the railway track.
The pachyderm was thrown to a distance of 20 ft under the impact of the collision and died on the spot, it was learnt. The mishap took place near an electric pole in between Daghora and Jamgaon railway stations.
On being informed, assistant conservator of forest Tankadhar Behera, forest ranger Habiram Choudhury along with other officials and veterinarians rushed to the spot and seized the carcass.
Sources said forest ranger Habiram Choudhury informed the railway station masters of Hemgiri, Daghora and Jamgaon stations the same night after an elephant herd entered the jungles under Hemgiri forest range Friday.
He even informed the Bilashpur zone office of the railways urging the authorities to slow down trains as there was every possibility that the pachyderms might cross the track, it was learnt.
Taking note of the matter, the railway officials had issued red-corner notices to all stations in the area. PNN
