Three elephants fatally struck by train in West Bengal
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Kolkata: In a distressing accident at the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, three elephants lost their lives after being struck by a parcel train.
The incident occurred in the early hours around 7 am between the Rajabhatkhawa and Kalchini railway stations, near Shikhari Gate.
The collision resulted in the tragic deaths of two adult elephants and a baby elephant, the devastating aftermath captured in video footage. The visuals showed one of the elephants pinned under the train, bearing multiple cut marks on its body, underscoring the severity of the accident.
The heart-wrenching occurrence unfolded in the West Rajabhatkhawa range of the tiger reserve, situated in Alipurduar district, mirroring a pattern of incidents commonly witnessed in India - train collisions leading to the deaths of elephants.
Earlier this year, another poignant incident took place in the Chapramari Reserve Forest in Alipurduar district, where a pregnant elephant was struck by a goods train while attempting to cross a railway track.
Government statistics reveal a disturbing trend, indicating an average of 20 elephant deaths annually due to train collisions in India.
The state of West Bengal, home to approximately 2% of the country's elephant population, grapples with railway accidents as a significant contributor to the unnatural demise of elephants. Efforts to prevent such incidents have been actively pursued by the government, acknowledging the gravity of this issue.