Bhubaneswar: A female elephant, which was critically injured after being hit by a speeding train near Sonakhan station in Rajgangpur, Sundargarh district, has been rescued and shifted to Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar for treatment.
The forest department and local authorities quickly responded to the scene, lifting the injured elephant from the track with a crane and transporting it to Nandankanan Zoological Park in a special vehicle for treatment. The rescue operation was carried out efficiently, with senior officers from the Forest Department and South Eastern Railway (SER) present at the site.
The incident occurred around 5 am on Thursday when the Bhubaneswar-Dhanbad Special Train collided with the elephant as it was crossing the track between Sagra and Sonakhan under the Chakradharpur Division of the Howrah-Mumbai main line.
According to reports, the elephant fell onto the adjacent up-track after being hit and was writhing in pain. The prompt action by the authorities ensured the elephant received timely medical attention. The incident has raised concerns about elephant safety and train operations in the area, with the forest department working to prevent such accidents in the future.
The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, with authorities looking into possible miscommunication between the railways and the forest department.
