Chhendipada: Two days after a tusker was mowed down by a speeding train on the tracks near Jarpada village on Angul-Sambalpur rail route, the Forest department held the Railways responsible for the animal’s death, Saturday.
The tusker died on the spot Thursday night after being hit and dragged by the Sambalpur-Shalimar-Mahima Gossain Express for about 30 metre.
The Forest department has alleged that the negligence of the Railways is to be blamed for the tusker’s death. This was stated here by Vivek Prakash, divisional forest officer (DFO), Angul following a probe into the animal’s death, Friday.
The DFO has alleged that the Forest department had issued a letter to the Railways urging them to slow down the trains along the track as the animal which had strayed into nearby areas was being driven back to the jungle. However, despite all the effort, the tusker died after being hit by a speeding train on the rail route connecting Angul with Sambalpur.
The DFO said that the tusker was roaming around the Budha Budhi Thakurani hill near Jereng under Jarpada forest range for quite some time.
The animal while moving often strayed into nearby areas and destroyed crops and properties.
On being informed, forest officials arrived at the spot and tried to drive away the tusker towards Adishila hill which is across the railway track. The animal had to cross the railway track and move towards the Adishila hill. The Forest department in a letter (no-9302) to the deputy controller, Railways urged for a reduction in the trains’ speed to less than 50 km per hour within Boinda to Jarpada stations from 6.30pm, Thursday to 6 am the next day However, due to negligence of the Railways, the Sambalpur-Howrah Shalimar Express train which was moving at a very high speed hit the animal while crossing the railway tracks at Jarpada at 9.30 pm, Thursday.
On being informed, Angul, RCCF M Jogajayananda, wildlife conservator Ranjan Kumar Behera, DFO, Jarpada ranger Madhab Nayak and other officials rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. The railways officials also visited the spot where talks were held between the two sides.
The carcass was buried near the railway tracks after veterinarians conducted a post-mortem, the DFO said. When contacted, Railways officials remained tightlipped and refused to speak on the issue.
PNN