Tusker killed by train in Uttarakhand’s Terai eastern forest division

RUDRAPUR: A 25-year-old male elephant died after it was struck by the Agra Fort express train on the Lalkuan-Bareilly railway line near Muktidham – a critical elephant corridor – within the Lalkuan police jurisdiction in Uttarakhand's Terai Eastern Forest Division around 11pm on Monday.
Eyewitnesses said that the impact hurled the animal toward a nearby house, where it succumbed to its injuries instantly. The incident has reignited scrutiny over the forest department and railway authorities' failure to prevent recurring accidents in this sensitive zone despite speed restrictions mandated for trains, underscoring the urgent need for stronger measures to protect wildlife in elephant corridors.
The forest department has launched an investigation into the incident. SDO Anil Joshi said, "We are probing the train's speed at the time, and if any violation is found, strict action will be taken against the loco pilot under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972."
This marks the first elephant fatality due to a train accident this year, adding to a tally of accidental elephant deaths in Uttarakhand over the years. According to official records, four elephants were killed in 2022, five in 2023, and three in 2024, in similar incidents across the state, raising serious concern among conservationists. Authorities are now under pressure to enforce compliance and prevent further loss of life, as well as ensure a safer passage for elephants in these high-risk zones.