PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Feb 12: A herd of elephants strayed onto railway tracks in the forest stretch of West Singhbhum district early Thursday morning, prompting railway authorities to regulate train movement and issue a high alert to prevent any untoward incident.
According to railway sources, the herd emerged from the adjoining forest area and reached the railway line passing through the Chaibasa region, which falls within the sensitive elephant corridor of southern Jharkhand.
After receiving information from forest personnel and local patrol teams, the Railways immediately imposed speed restrictions on trains passing through the affected stretch.
Speed Restrictions and Coordination
Train drivers were alerted and instructed to proceed with extreme caution.
Railway control rooms maintained constant communication with loco pilots, while ground staff coordinated with forest department teams to monitor the elephants’ movement and ensure their safe return to the forest.
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The Chakradharpur railway division, under whose jurisdiction the section falls, frequently handles such situations, especially during migratory seasons when elephant herds move along traditional corridors that intersect railway tracks.
No Injuries Reported
Imposing speed limits in vulnerable zones is part of the standard operating procedure to minimise the risk of train-elephant collisions. In the past, such accidents have led to elephant casualties in Jharkhand.
Forest officials confirmed that no injuries or damage were reported in the present incident. The herd eventually moved away from the tracks, allowing normal train operations to resume gradually.
Authorities reiterated the need for close coordination between the Railways and the Forest Department in ecologically sensitive areas like West Singhbhum, which has dense forests and a significant elephant population.
Continuous monitoring and timely alerts remain crucial to ensuring both wildlife safety and uninterrupted rail services.