PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 25: Rail and road traffic in several parts of Jharkhand continues to face major disruption due to frequent movement of wild elephants, forcing authorities to take precautionary measures to avoid accidents.
Local Trains Cancelled for Four Days
As many as 18 local passenger trains have been cancelled for four consecutive days, from December 25 to 28, following repeated elephant crossings on the Manoharapur–Jharsuguda rail section under the Chakradharpur railway division, railway officials said.
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The cancelled services include the Tatanagar–Rourkela–Tatanagar MEMU, Chakradharpur–Rourkela–Chakradharpur MEMU, Tata–Barbil–Tata MEMU, Tata–Gua–Tata MEMU, Tata–Chakradharpur–Tata MEMU and Tata–Kharagpur–Tata MEMU, among others.
The prolonged suspension of local trains has caused severe inconvenience to daily commuters, especially passengers travelling to and from smaller stations who largely depend on MEMU and passenger services.
Railways Avert Mishap on Main Line
Amid the disruptions, a notable example of wildlife protection was witnessed in the same railway division recently.
A herd of 22 elephants was seen crossing the railway tracks between Bisra and Bandamunda Cabin ‘A’ on the busy Howrah–Mumbai main line. Giving priority to animal safety, railway authorities halted the movement of 12 long-distance trains, successfully preventing any mishap.
The heightened alert followed the tragic incident in Assam on December 20, where seven elephants were killed after being hit by the Rajdhani Express.
The timely intervention in Jharkhand averted a similar accident, and the Chakradharpur railway division was later honoured by the Wildlife Trust of India for its proactive measures.
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Highway Traffic Halted on NH-33
Elephant movement also disrupted road traffic on National Highway-33, the key link between Ranchi and Ramgarh, on Wednesday evening.
A herd of 18 wild elephants suddenly appeared near the highway, creating panic among motorists.
As a precaution, police and district authorities suspended vehicular movement from both directions—traffic from Ramgarh was stopped near Mayatungri hill, while vehicles from Ranchi were halted in the Kharabera area of the Chutupalu valley.
Traffic on NH-33 remained completely suspended for nearly an hour.
Following the alert, the forest department’s quick response team reached the spot and safely guided the elephants back into the forest using torches, flashlights and sirens. Vehicular movement was restored thereafter.
Officials said the situation remains serious, noting that six people have lost their lives in elephant-related incidents in Jharkhand over the past week, underscoring the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in the state.
