Agartala, December 29: A giant wild tusker, locally known as “Tumor,” was critically injured after being hit by a high-speed train traveling from Agartala to Dharmanagar said a senior forest officials who reached the accident spot along with medical team and led the treatment and rescue operations.
This is second such incident in that area this year.
The incident occurred Saturday evening near Shalbagan, in the Maharani Kapali Tila forest area, a demarcated elephant corridor under the jurisdiction of the Teliamura Subdivision Forest Department in Khowai district.
Forest officials in Teliamura were immediately informed, and a team, including a veterinarian, rushed to the spot to provide first-aid treatment to the injured elephant.
After receiving preliminary medical care, the elephant managed to crawl into the nearby forest for shelter.
According to Akshay Balu Bhorde, District Forest Officer (DFO), the passenger train struck the elephant while it was crossing the railway track in the dense forest region last evening. The impact caused severe injuries to the elephant’s waist and hind legs, leaving it writhing in pain near the tracks.
He added that the spot is a known elephant corridor and trains are suppose to maintain low speed to avoid collusion with wild animals but it seems the locomotive pilot didnot maintain the caution and was overspeed due to which the accident occurred and a FIR will be lodged with the railway police in connection to this.
Forest officials confirmed that the condition of the injured elephant is currently stable.
A team of veterinarians is scheduled to revisit the area on Sunday to continue treatment and ensure the elephant’s recovery.
The incident has once again raised concerns about wildlife safety in areas where railway tracks pass through protected forest zones.
