Assam : Passenger train derails after it hits wild elephant

The incident took place at Letekujan area near Titabor in the upper Assam district at around 4-50 am when a herd of wild elephants was trying to cross the railway track.

According to the Northeast Frontier Railway officials, at about 4-50 am the front luggage cum parcel van number 96701 of train number 15603 Guwahati – Ledo Intercity Express got derailed when the train dashed against an elephant at km 357 / 6-7 between stations Titabar and Mariani under Tinsukia Division of NF Railway.

Senior officials of Tinsukia Railway Division reached the site immediately along with relief train.

The section was restored and the stranded train left the site after the coach was re-railed.

Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of NF Railway, Pranav Jyoti Sharma said that, prima facie enquiry has found that the train was within its stipulated speed.

A departmental enquiry has been ordered to find out details about adherence to protocols, Sharma said.

“There has been a manifold increase in the incidents of elephant crossings during the recent past and trains are constantly slowed down whenever any information of herd movement is shared with the railway by the forest department. It is only because of the close coordination between field level officials of both the forest and railway department that as many as 200 imminent dashing have been prevented this year alone. However the incidents have to be seen in the light of recent spurt of man – animal conflicts,” Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.