In a unique piece of news, Assam forest officials have seized a train engine for mowing down elephants inside the Lumding Reserve Forest in Hojai district.
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The incident happened weeks ago and now when the inquiry was set up, it was found that the driver surpassed the speed limit of 40-kmph. “Our caution order was violated as the train speed was high,” Pulak Kumar Choudhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) from Hojai district said.
As the train was running at a speed of 60kmph, it dragged an adult and one-year-old calf for nearly a kilometre (km) before the engine came to a grinding halt.
“The department shall not fail to take a tough stand against the Railways. The killing of elephants on tracks must stop forthwith,” Assam environment and forests minister Parimal Suklabaidya said.
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The accident happened near the Pathorkhola railway station when the elephants were trying to cross the rail tracks.
“This is probably the first such instance in the country, when a railway locomotive has been seized in connection with death on train tracks,” said MK Yadava chief wildlife warden, Assam.
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The loco pilot and his assistant were suspended after the incident came to light.
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The elephants that were killed come under the list of Schedule I animals under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. That is why under forest offence, the employees have been suspended and necessary action against them would be taken.
