Elephant-Train Collisions: A Growing Concern in Northeast India
On a chilly winter night in December 2020, eight elephants, including a newborn calf, were tragically killed after colliding with a high-speed train in Assam. This incident, which occurred near Sangjurai and Patiapam villages, has raised concerns about the safety of these majestic creatures and the need for collaboration between railways and wildlife authorities.
The Fatal Collision: An Unprecedented Loss
The collision took place in the Jamunamukh Kampur section under the Lumding division, around 126 km from Guwahati. Five bogies of the train, along with the locomotive, were derailed, but fortunately, no human casualties were reported. The incident led to the cancellation of several trains, including the Rangiya New Tinsukia Express, Guwahati Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express, Guwahati Badarpur Vistadome Express, and New Tinsukia Rangiya Express.
The Role of Villages and Elephant Movement
The villages near the collision site, known for rice cultivation, are frequently visited by elephants during winter. Residents claim that elephants come from Kondoli Reserve Forest to graze on paddy. Patiapam resident Anil Baruah, who lives near the accident site, said, "I have also heard that some elephants come from Kaziranga National Park to deliver their calves to avoid predation from tigers."
Coordination Between Forest Department and Railways
The forest department claimed that despite timely warnings, the collision could not be prevented. Range Officer of the Kampur range, Shamim Akhtar, said, "Our forest guards patrolling at night tracked the movement of a herd of more than 60 elephants at around 1.30 a.m. The elephants had already crossed the Kathiatoli range by then and had entered Kampur. Though we have a WhatsApp group with the NFR for coordination, we didn't take any chances. Our staff went and alerted the station master at Kampur station."
Preventing Future Incidents: A Shared Responsibility
Anupam Sarmah, team leader of the Brahmaputra landscape, WWF-India, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the forest department and railway authorities to prevent such incidents. He suggested regular awareness sessions with locomotive pilots, strict adherence to speed instructions, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas.
Looking Ahead: A New Route for Elephants?
The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) stated that the accident location was not part of any designated elephant corridor. However, Molan Laskar, a social activist based in Kampur town, argued that trains should slow down in areas where elephant movement is common, even if they are not designated corridors.
The tragic incident in Assam underscores the need for a more coordinated approach to conservation in the region. As human activities encroach upon wildlife habitats, it is crucial that we work together to ensure the safety and survival of our elephant population.