Khurda: A tusker was killed on the spot after being hit by a goods train Saturday night at around 8.30pm near Bhusandapur railway station under Tangi forest division in Khurda district.
An eyewitness said that the fatal mishap took place when a herd of more than 20 elephants was crossing the railway tracks in close vicinity of Bhusandapur level crossing. One of the pachyderms died on the spot while two others sustained injuries in the incident.
On being informed by local residents Sunday morning, a team of Tangi forest division officials reached the accident site and recovered the carcass. Later, it was sent for postmortem.
Also read: Odisha registers 112 new Covid-19 cases; 17 below 18 years
“A herd of elephants consisting 15 to 20 of the animals had earlier strayed into the forest near Bhusandapur from Chandaka forest area. The herd often roams nearby the farmlands in search of food during night hours,” a senior forest official said.
In another incident Saturday night, a woman was trampled to death by a tusker while her minor daughter had a close shave at Sanadalki village under Bonai forest range in Sundargarh district.
It is pertinent to mention here that during the Winter Session of Odisha Assembly, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha informed the House that 406 jumbos died between 2016-17 and 2020-21.
PNN