Train services on the busy Rourkela–Jharsuguda rail section near Jharkhand-Odisha border were disrupted early on Thursday morning after an elephant was struck and killed by a speeding train, triggering alarm among passengers and railway officials.
According to sources, the tragic incident occurred around 5:30 am between Sona Khan and Sagra stations, near pole number 453/23 on the up line. Eyewitnesses said the elephant was crossing the tracks when the train, unable to halt in time, rammed into the animal. The collision proved fatal, leaving the carcass sprawled across the railway line.
Following the accident, several trains were delayed as movement on the affected line had to be suspended.
Railway authorities, along with forest department officials, rushed to the site and began efforts to remove the elephant’s body. Heavy equipment is being used, and clearance operations were still underway till morning hours.
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The Rourkela–Jharsuguda stretch, passing through forested corridors, often witnesses the movement of elephant herds. Conservationists have repeatedly urged the authorities to impose speed restrictions in vulnerable stretches, especially during early morning and late-night hours when elephants frequently cross railway tracks.
Local villagers gathered at the site, expressing grief over the death of the animal and raising concerns about the safety of elephants in the region. “This is not the first time such an incident has happened here. The government must take strict measures to prevent further loss of wildlife,” a villager said.
Railway officials assured that measures are being discussed in coordination with the Forest Department to enhance patrolling, install warning systems, and regulate train speed in identified elephant corridors.
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